The world has seen Jamacians being among the fastest in the track community. Be it Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, or Elaine Thompson-Herah, the athletes have made history in their time on the field. One more Jamaican star Jaydon Hibbert adds a new layer to the flair by bringing the Bowerman Award home. The 18-year-old young track and field icon became the spotlight on December 14th, 2023.
It was a long-awaited win that has been accomplished after 2009. Along similar lines, triple-world champion Noah Lyles personally praised Hibbert on social media. Lyles’ words have taken the internet by storm. Let us take a look at the rising star.
A new Jamaican sensation on the horizon
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The youngest-ever Bowerman awardee is the talk of the town. His journey began just three years ago. According to World Athletics.com, Born in 2005, Hibbert emerged as a Jamaican track and field sensation at 18. The surging icon started his jump training late, but he quickly excelled. Interestingly, he mastered the long jump and triple jump, securing podium finishes at the national level in 2021.
As a result, Hibbert won gold in the triple jump at the 2022 World Under-20 Championships with a leap of 17.27m. This made him one of the youngest to surpass 17m & second on the all-time U18 world list.
Down the lines, in 2023, representing Arkansas, he set records in the NCAA indoor triple jump and earned recognition as SEC Indoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year. Currently, the athlete as per the NBC Olympics.com is coached by Travis Geopfert. Furthermore, Hibbert’s achievements reached a new height with legend Noah Lyles praising his remarkable journey in track and field.
Noah Lyles applauds Jaydon Hibbert
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Lyles showered accolades on the accomplished Jamaican, Jaydon Hibbert, for clinching the esteemed Bowerman Award on December 14. Lyles expressed his commendation with a tweet that read, “Congratulations @wunderkid_ on winning the Bowerman!”.
The 18-year-old sensation etched his name in history at the US Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Convention in Denver, Colorado. Hibbert marked several firsts, being the inaugural Jamaican recipient and the first freshman male to receive this honor.
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This outstanding achievement underscores Hibbert’s extraordinary talent and establishes a groundbreaking milestone in his burgeoning career. With the 2024 Paris Olympics looming, the global stage anticipates the emergence of new names, with Hibbert poised to make headlines in the upcoming showdown.
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