Indira Spence - FILE

With the conclusion of the Collegiate Cross Country Championships in the United States on the weekend, all attention will now turn to the indoor track and field season which will run until next March.

Several Jamaicans attending colleges in the United States will be hoping to make their marks in both Division I and II indoor championships next year.

Last season, Nickeisha Wilson, Nickeisha Anderson and Simone Facey were the most dominant Jamaicans. All three made the Jamaican squad to the Beijing Olympic Games with Wilson competing in the women's 400 metres hurdles, while both Anderson and Facey were reserves in the 4x100 metres relay pool.

Neither Wilson nor Facey will be returning, as Facey, who competed for Texas A&M University, has completed her two years of eligibility, after transferring from Barton County College. Wilson, who won the 400 metres hurdles title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in May, has turned professional. The Louisiana State University (LSU) student had one year of eligibility remaining.

Outstanding season

Anderson had an outstanding season for Kansas University, both indoors and outdoors, and the former Herbert Morrison Technical graduate should be the top Jamaican this year at this level. She did extremely well in both the 60 and 200 metres in 2008.

Former Vere Technical athlete, Kimberly Williams, who is a second-year student at Florida State University, will be hoping to maintain her high standard in the triple jump event where she was the indoor silver medallist in her first outing. Former St Jago High School athlete Andrea Linton, who will be competing in her final year for LSU, has improved tremendously and should have a good indoor season in both the long and triple jumps. Her teammate, Melissa Ogbourne, also a St Jago High graduate, will be competing indoors for the first time and she is also expected to do well in both jumps.

Experience gained

With the likes of Facey and Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly Ann Baptiste out of the way, former Queen's School student Samantha Henry could steal the spotlight in both sprints for LSU. She was very competitive last year and with the experience gained could be the most dominant Jamaican this year in both sprints.

Following a good season in his first year for Texas A&M, University, former Wolmer's Boys' standout Julian Reid is expected to make a big mark in both the long and triple jumps. He finished in the top four in the long jump last season, but gave a disappointing performance in the triple jump at the indoor championships.

Another Jamaican expected to figure strongly here is the former Kingston College athlete Alain Bailey who will be competing in his third season at this level.

The Victor 'Poppy Thomas-coached Lincoln University are expected to return to winning ways in Division II. The likes of Meisha Thompson, Marcia Woolery, Jody Ann Powell and new addition Nyoka Cole out of the University of Technology should dominate in their respective events. Adam State's hurdler, Indira Spence, and Carla Kaye Mills, both former students of Vere Technical, should also have a great season.