Kemba Nelson

Kemba Nelson (born 23 February 2000) is a Jamaican sprinter competing for the Oregon Ducks in American collegiate track and field. She is the collegiate record holder in the women's 60 metres with a time of 7.05 seconds, which she set when winning the final at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in March 2021.

Athletics career Mount Alvernia High and the University of Technology Nelson first started competing in track and field at Mount Alvernia High School in Montego Bay, Jamaica—a school not known for its track and field program—coached by Lawrence Mendez her first year and later Andrew Henry.

Nelson then attended the University of Technology (UTech) in Jamaica from 2018 to 2020, where she was coached by Paul Francis at the MVP Track and Field Club. In her first year she placed third in the women's 100 metres at the 2018 Jamaican Under-20 Championships and ran on the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2018 World Under-20 Championships, though the Jamaican team was unable to advance after being disqualified in the semi-finals for stepping out of their lane.

In 2019 she qualified to represent Jamaica in the under-20 category for the CARIFTA Games. She placed third in the women's 100 metres and teamed up with 100 metres champion Briana Williams, Kimone Reid, and 100 metres hurdles champion Ackera Nugent in the 4 × 100 metres relay, anchoring the team to gold. At the Jamaican Under-20 Championships she won the women's 100 metres and 200 metres in personal best times of 11.49 and 23.57 seconds respectively,

Oregon transfer and 2021 indoor season Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nelson barely competed and spent most of 2020 addressing injuries instead.

On 13 March at the 2021 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships she improved in the women's 60 metres semi-finals with a time of 7.13 seconds, though Terry remained the favorite after she too improved her personal best to 7.09 seconds. However, Nelson again defeated Terry in the final with a collegiate record of 7.05 seconds, the second fastest time in the world that year. She competed at the USATF Grand Prix in the University of Oregon's renovated Hayward Field on 24 April, winning her 100 metres semi final in a wind-assisted (+2.4 m/s wind velocity) time of 11.08 seconds ahead of Olympic champions Allyson Felix and Tianna Bartoletta. In the final Nelson finished fifth in 11.22 seconds, several meters behind Blessing Okagbare who won in 10.97 seconds, but Nelson didn't expect to win even her semi-final and called it a "very, very good experience".

2022 - and beyond

During the 2022 season, she won 4 x 100 metres relay medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England and the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Jamaica received silver after originally finishing third owing to one Nigerian member doping violation and stripping of the gold medal.

Since 2023, Kemba tries to maintain top form through disappointments.

Personal life Nelson is an undergrad at the University of Oregon studying applied economics, business and society, and plans to pursue a masters in finance. She graduated from university and is now a professional athlete.

Statistics Circuit performances

Personal bests Event !! Time !! Wind (m/s) !! Place !! Date !! Notes