May 03 2008
Levern’s Back--- Story courtesy Terry Finisterre for The St Lucia Sports Blog

St Lucia's reignng Female Sports Personality of the Year (2007) Levern Spencer has not had a great deal to celebrate of late. She had not competed since early February, when she won the women's High Jump at the Virginia Tech Elite. It was her second indoor meet of the season for the University of Georgia, but it would prove to be her last.

Levern went on to miss her conference championships and the NCAA national championships; her future was the subject of widespread, intense speculation in St Lucia and in the United States. Did she violate NCAA regulations? If so, which ones? Regardless, Levern's career as a Georgia Bulldog appears to be over, and not necesarily on the most amicable of terms.

Fortunately, this is not the end for the 24-year-old, the only St Lucian to have qualified for the World Championships in Athletics in 2007. She competed last weekend at the Spec Towns Invitational in Athens, Georgia, winning the women's High Jump with a clearance of 1.92m, the best mark in the world so far, and just two centimetres shy of her national record.

With very little competition - the next best clearance was 1.65mm, nearly 12 inches back of first place - Levern was able to once again achieve the qualifying standard for this year's Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

Women High Jump

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Venue record: 1.97m 1996 Tisha Waller, Goldwin Track Club
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1 Levern Spencer, Unattached... 1.92m (6'3.5")
2 Lorena Menghia, Jacksonville St... 1.65m (5'5")
3 Kayla Blake, South Carolina... 1.65m (5'5")