Portland State sprinter Karene King competed on behalf of her home country of the British Virgin Islands at the Central American and Caribbean Sport Games held last week in Mayaguez, Pureto Rico.
King participated in the 100- and 200-meter events, qualifying for the finals in the latter category. She also posted her personal best in the 100m at 11.84 seconds, .07 seconds better than her previous record, nearly qualifying in that category as well. She had previously clocked an 11.91 twice before.
Her semifinal 200m heat resulted in a time of 24.31 seconds, which was enough to push her through to the final. She placed eighth overall at the games for the 200m. Aside from the event’s repeat gold medalist Tahesia Harrigan, King has run the most under-12-second 100m heats among her native territory’s female sprinters.
During her Viking tenure, King has earned three Big Sky Championship medals, despite never having competed in an indoor track and field event prior to her time as a Viking. She will return for her senior season in 2010–11.
King is the second track and field athlete with Portland State ties to compete internationally this summer. Last month, former PSU All-American Nick Trubachik represented Team USA with a second-place finish in the decathlon at the North American, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association U23 Championships in Miramar, Fla.