By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MINNESOTA State University Moorhead (MSU) Dragons’ senior Shyrone Kemp heads into the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division II track and field championships this weekend as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Male Field Indoor Athlete of the Year.

The 24-year-old Grand Bahamian long, triple and high jumper turned in one of the most historic performances in recent memory at the NSIC Indoor Championships where he earned All-NSIC distinction in the long jump with a top mark of 24-11.75 (7.61m), a new personal best for the standout.

“I won’t say it was an easy process, but my coach (Barry) installed a pro- gramme that enabled me to get these accomplishments,” Kemp said. “With him being a part of it, I would say that is the reason why I got it.

“He has a plan, so I just trust him, trust God to see it through and I just put in the work that he gives me and stay focused as I do what I have to do.”

During the NSIC Championships, Kemp had a top clearance of 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) to win the high jump and mark a new personal best. He concluded his meet with his fifth straight NSIC indoor title in the triple jump, winning with a mark of 51-10 1/2 (15.81m), which is currently the second-best in Division II.

“My best event that I compete in is the triple jump because it requires a lot and being the type of athlete that I am, I would overdo the work that my coach gives me because I just want to make myself better,” Kemp said.

“But I was very pleased with my high jump at the indoor conference. I didn’t know what to expect, but my coach told me to just go out there and get it over with. At the end of the day, I ended up winning the competition with my personal best.”

As a result of his performances, Kemp was the NSIC’s high point scorer at the conference meet, tallying 26 points by himself. He was also the indoor high point scorer at the 2022 conference meet.

Kemp is competing for the Dragons, which features several other Bahamians in Grand Bahamian juniors Latrell Taylor (sprints/jumps) and junior Tyler Missick (jumps) along with Nassau’s sophomore Elkan Johnson and Shavantae Roberts, both sprinters.

Former national high jumper Trevor Barry, who heads the Bahamian connection in Moorhead, Minneapolis, claimed that Kemp deserves the recognition and more.

“It was a good performance, great, excellent,” was how Barry summed up Kemp’s achievements.

“Right now he is ranked at number two in the triple and number three in the long jump, so we’re expect- ing some great things from him this weekend.”

Kemp will contest the long jump today and the triple jump on Saturday.

He will be among a list of Bahamians whom Barry helped to recruit to MSUM since he’s been a member of the athletic coaching staff for about five years.

“I think it’s just special to have these Bahamian athletes competing here together.

“I’m proud to be able to pass down some of my knowledge to them.”

Kemp, who is in his final year, said he’s been pleased with the relationship he’s developed with Barry and the rest of the Bahamian connection.

“It’s comfortable, it’s great to have people around you who come from the same culture that you come from,” Kemp said. “Just being around them makes you feel like you are back home.”

For this weekend, Kemp said he’s hoping to jump at least 53-9 3/4 (16.40m) or better in the triple jump and 26-3 (8m) for the long jump and, in the process, end up in the top two positions in both events.

Kemp, a graduate of Tabernacle Baptist Academy in Grand Bahama, is the son of Tyrone and Cora Kemp. He’s completing his new major in psychology, having already finished his degree in exercise science.