Romaine Beckford (born 9 July 2002) is a Jamaican track and field athlete who competes in the high jump.

Romaine Beckford
Personal information
NationalityJamaican
Born (2002-07-09) 9 July 2002 (age 22)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventHigh jump
Achievements and titles
Personal bestHigh Jump 2.29m (Chorzów 2024)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Jamaica
NACAC U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 San Jose High jump

Career

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From Portland, Jamaica,[1] Beckford attended South Plains College for two years before transferring to the University of South Florida. He set a personal best of 2.21m at the Tom Jones Memorial meet at the University of Florida in April 2022.[2] Later that month, whilst competing at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia in the high jump, he set a new personal best clearance of 2.23 metres.[3] He finished eighth at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July 2022.[4]

He won the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships high jump title competing for USF.[5] In June 2023, he won the NCAA Outdoor title with a personal best height of 2.27m, in Austin, Texas.[6] In July 2023, he won the Jamaican national title in Kingston, Jamaica.[7] He subsequently competed for Jamaica at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.[8][9] He won the 2023 NACAC U23 Championships in San José, Costa Rica.[10]

He transferred to the University of Arkansas for the 2023-24 season.[11] In February 2024, he set an indoor personal best of 2.27 metres at the Razorback Invitational.[12] He won the high jump at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships in March 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts, doing so with a personal best indoors height of 2.27m.[13][14] He won the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor title in June 2024, with a clearance of 2.26m in Eugene, Oregon.[15]

In July 2024, he was officially selected for the Jamaican team for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he qualified for the final, finishing in tenth place overall.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ "Jamaica's Romaine Beckford, Wayne Pinnock, and Terrence Jones of the Bahamas make latest edition of Bowerman Watch List". Sports Max. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  2. ^ "High jumper Romaine Beckford sets sights on Commonwealth Games". Jamaica Observer. May 6, 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  3. ^ Lawrence, Hubert (May 3, 2022). "Romaine Beckford: Part of new high jump wave". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  4. ^ "High Jump Results". World Athletics. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Romaine Beckford retains NCAA high jump title". Jamaica Observer. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Beckford Claims Men's High Jump National Champion Title and New Program Record Mark". gousfbulls. June 9, 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  7. ^ Williams, Melton (July 7, 2023). "Romaine Beckford claims national high jump title at Jamaica Trials". Jamaica Loopnews. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  8. ^ Wheeler, Daniel (10 July 2023). "Beckford hopes to be on world stage in 2023". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  9. ^ "High Jump Results". World Athletics. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Romaine Beckford clears 2.19m for victory in high jump at Arkansas Invitational". Caribbean National Weekly. January 16, 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Romaine Beckford leaves South Florida for University of Arkansas for 2023/2024 NCAA season". SportsMax. July 17, 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Jamaican Romaine Beckford named SEC Field Athlete of the Week". Caribbean National Weekly. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Texas Tech and Arkansas win men's, women's titles at 2024 NCAA DI indoor track and field championships". ncaa.com. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  14. ^ "WAYNE PINNOCK ON ROMAINE BECKFORD WINNING HIGH JUMP TITLE, ARKANSAS' SECOND-PLACE TEAM FINISH - NCAA D1 INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024". Dyetsat. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  15. ^ Rodriguez, Kyle (7 June 2024). "Here Are The NCAA Track And Field Championships Results On Day 3". Flotrack. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Men's High Jump Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  17. ^ Levy, Leighton (July 7, 2024). "JAAA announces star-studded team for 2024 Paris Olympic Games". Sportsmax.tv. Retrieved 8 July 2024.