Florida State University is the only college in the United States to have three women’s discus throwers who qualified to compete in the NCAA championships in Oregon in June 2017. The three are Kellion Knibb, a graduate student; Gieneve Grange, a senior; and Shanice Love, a freshman. All three are from Jamaica, as is their coach, Dorian Scott. All three have also held Jamaica’s junior national record in the discus event at some time in their athletic careers. Knibb won a silver medal at the 2016 NCAA and held the national record until May 16, 2017. According to Grange, the three are like sisters, and competing together has brought them even closer. They push each other to do better, and ultimately, it is about being a team trying to defeat someone else, she said. Knibb went to the NCAA championships with the second-best throw in the country, throwing a career-best 62.07 meters at the Penn Relays in April 2017. Knibb said it was easy to relate to her teammates, especially since she and Gieneve competed in high school. Knibb also said she was very proud of freshman Love and how she progressed during the outdoor season. Love acknowledged that her first year with the Seminoles team was “a bit rough,” but that it was a great experience. She enjoyed have other Jamaicans around because she could “talk normally” and express herself how she wanted to, knowing she would be understood. “I feel at home,” she said. While Grange and Love were first-timers at the NCAA championships, Knibb was competing at the tournament for her third time.

Photo Credit: Bob Thomas/FSU Athletics