“Whole World Is Proud”: As Athlete Praised by Noah Lyles Says Goodbye to NCAA, Track and Field Opens Arms for His Elite Journey

When it comes to track and field, Jamaicans are the first ones to remember. Extending from Sprinting King Usain Bolt to track queens Elaine Thompson Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, some of the fastest and most exciting athletes are from Jamaica. Along the same lines, another star hailing from the Caribbean coast is emerging as a promising face in the annals of men’s triple jump. So much so that he drew the attention of Noah Lyles only a month back.

6X World Champion Lyles took to social media to congratulate Arkansas track and field star Jaydon Hibbert when the latter became the youngest-ever athlete to lift the Bowerman trophy. Hibbert, who just completed 19, is the second-longest jump record holder after James Beckford’s national record of 19.92m in the history of Jamaica. However, this time he came under the limelight as he entered another phase of his life, creating ripples among the fans.

Arkansas track and field star leaves a piece of his heart

NCAA Champion and world U-20 champion, Jaydon Hibbert, not only has an NIL contract with German sports company PUMA but also features a 17.54m U20 world and NCAA record. Recently, his NCAA eligibility came to an end. On this occasion, to share his gratitude to the university where he was trained, he took it to his official Instagram account and posted a heartfelt message. 

He wrote, “UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS!🐗🔥You have been more than just a school to me, You’ve been a family! To all my coaches, teammates and professors, you’ve shaped me into the athlete and person i am today!🙂 You’ve instilled in me the RAZORBACK spirit which i’ll carry with me on my professional journey!😜”

Indicating his lifelong bond with the university, Hibbert further wrote, “The roar of the crowd at every track-meet, the camaraderie, the grind , the triumphs, and even the injuries….each has carved a piece of my heart and soul!”

Even though most junior athletes in vertical jumping start practicing at a very young age, the case was different for Hilbert. Interestingly, Hibbert began his first structured training program when he was in the final years of high school. However, he rapidly grasped the basics of the long jump and the triple jump and was further nourished by his coach, Travis Geopfert. Directly after receiving rigorous training from the coach, Hibbert began sparkling at the NCAA and National Levels. As his stellar NCAA career came to an end, fans dropped their thoughts for the moment.

What are fans saying about Hibbert’s new journey?

As Hibbert shared the news on his social media account, not only spectators, family and supporters but also an array of athletes commented on his post. One of their friends Hibbert, flaamingoo, in the same post, said, “Now it makes sense what you said to me in the airport“, showering light on the fact that Hibbert’s actions are the same as his words. 

Read More: Despite Struggling With Multiple Sclerosis, 28 YO Track and Field Star Kickstarts Paris Olympics Year With A Bang

On the other hand, _Kxnaomi said, “The whole world is proud of you, Hibby! Do your thing.” While some of the spectators congratulated the big star on the new journey, others wished for an astonishing career ahead. Imani. Carpenter said, “Walking into your “getting everything God has for your season.” Lauding Hibbert, one fan quipped, “Greatness Personified!” Citius Mag also chimed in with its take while writing, “He’s all grown up!” The world eagerly waits to see the colors of the grown-up star!

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