Aggies break pair of collegiate records in sprint medleys at SEC Relays
Apr 28, 2017 | Track and Field
BATON ROUGE – Texas A&M produced two collegiate records in the first pair of races held in the inaugural SEC Relays at Bernie Moore Stadium on Friday. The Aggie women rocked 3:39.04 while the men rolled to a 3:11.94 as each claimed victories in the sprint medley relays, which includes legs covering 200m, 200m, 400m and 800m.
"We feel like this is what track and field needs to do in having this type of competition," said Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry. "For us to start with two collegiate records is fantastic for our team. They looked really good doing it. Both are big achievements, particular with a freshman on the end of the men's relay and sophomore on the end of the women's relay."
With a line-up of Diamond Spaulding, Brenessa Thompson, Jaevin Reed (50.9), and Jazmine Fray (2:02.3), the Aggie women bettered the field by four seconds as LSU (3:43.17) placed second and Mississippi (3:48.14) finished third.
Texas A&M women had produced the third best collegiate time (3:42.10) in winning the Texas Relays earlier this season. Just before they ran the event in the SEC Relays, Oregon set a collegiate best of 3:39.05 at the Penn Relays to better the previous record of 3:41.78 set by Tennessee in 2004.
"We were so excited about our Texas Relays win and our time, but we're always wanting more," stated Fray, who broke the indoor 800m collegiate record this season. "We're so excited to have broken the collegiate record and want to keep more records if we can. It's so exciting, and I'm happy to have broken a record with my teammates."
In the men's sprint medley the Aggie crew consisted of Fred Kerley, Elijah Morrow, Mylik Kerley (44.8) and Devin Dixon (1:47.0). They broke the collegiate record of 3:12.13 set in 2000 by Arkansas and the Texas A&M school record of 3:15.10 which was set in 1988. Members of the Aggie school record included Derrick Florence, Stanley Kerr, Errington Lindo and Matt Dunn.
Finishing behind Texas A&M with a 3:12.25, the fifth fastest collegiate time, was LSU while Arkansas claimed third in 3:15.28.
"My mind was blown when I heard we broke the collegiate record," said Dixon, who ran on the Aggies 4x400 collegiate record indoors. "Another collegiate record is a good feeling. I wanted to run my own pace and not someone else's pace, it worked."
Mylik Kerley added: "Every time I line up with these guys it's always fun. There were no slouches on the 400m leg of this race. I knew I needed to do my job and get the stick to Devin in good shape for the anchor leg. We always think breaking a record is a possibility."
The Aggies also won the men's 4x800 with a time of 7:24.55 with the crew of Ian Cazares (1:51.63), Efrain Hernandez (1:50.46), Gaines Kinsey (1:50.80) and JaQwae Ellison 91:51.66), breaking the stadium record of 7:31.86 set by Akron in 2011. Runner-up to Texas A&M was Arkansas (7:33.21) with Mississippi State (7:40.70) in third.
In the women's 4x800 the Aggies placed fourth with a time of 8:46.97, running a foursome of Katie Willard (2:08.70), Arin Rice (2:11.06), Hannah Campbell (2:13.75), Brittany Parker (2:13.46). They finished behind Arkansas (8:33.97), Mississippi State (8:39.06) and LSU (8:44.46).
Through those four relay events the combined team score in the SEC Relays has Texas A&M leading with 35 points as Arkansas and LSU are tied with 27 points while Mississippi State is fourth with 20.
Aggie victories on the first day of the SEC Relays included Serena Brown improving her Bahamas national record in the discus with a throw of 186-6 (56.84), which also moves Brown to No. 2 on the 2017 world junior list.
Brown started by improving her previous best by an inch in the third round, with a toss of 179-5 (54.68). In the fourth round she belted out a seven-foot improvement to take the lead from Janeah Stewart of Mississippi, who finished second with her opening round toss of 183-9 (56.00). Aggie Celine Markert placed sixth at 163-0 (49.68).
Audie Wyatt claimed the pole vault with a 17-9 ¼ (5.42) clearance in a dual with Alabama's Will Herrscher, who cleared the same height but needed an extra attempt at 17-1 ½ (5.22). Another pair of Aggies, Carl Johansson (17-5 ½) and Jacob Wooten (16-7 ½), placed third and tied for fourth.
Will Williams was the top collegian in the long jump with a windy best of 26-2 ¾w (7.99), finishing behind a 26-9 ¾ (8.17) from professional Damar Forbes. Texas A&M's Jeffrey Prothro turned in a 24-5w for ninth place.
A throw of 200-1 (60.98) placed Alison Ondrusek third in the hammer while Carissa van Beek hit a mark of 183-9 (56.00) for seventh place. Jeff Bartlett threw 191-1 (58.24) for third place in the men's discus as Brody Gowing placed 10th with a 168-8 (51.40). Kara Erickson tied for seventh in the high jump at 5-7 (1.70).
In non-scoring events the Aggies produced a winner in the 5,000 meters with Jacob Perry clocking 14:49.22. Joining Perry in the 5km race were teammates Christian Farris (14:50.48) in third and Austin Wells (14:58.86) in fifth.
In the women's race Kelsie Warren led the Aggie crew with a runner-up finish in 17:03.62 while Devin Norton (17:36.05) placed fourth. Ashton Hutcherson posted a time 10:47.30 to place third among collegians in the 3,000m steeplechase and fourth overall.
Elijah Morrow was the top collegian at 200m, and second overall, with a 20.67w (2.8 wind) as teammate Jace Comick (21.34w) placed ninth.
Robert Grant finished as runner-up in the 400m hurdles with a 49.78 as his collegiate leading time of 49.40 was bettered by Kemar Mowatt of Arkansas, who won the race in 49.09. Aggie Ilolo Izu placed fifth with a 51.47 career best while Infinite Tucker ran 52.77 for seventh place. In the women's 400m hurdles Lauren Lawless ran another career best as her 59.34 placed fifth.
In the 400m, Richard Rose ran 46.22 to place third in the men's race as Kadecia Baird turned in a 53.15 for third in the women's race with Glorilisha Carter (54.76) in seventh. Chinyere Njoku placed eighth in the 100m hurdles with a 13.64 (1.8 wind) while Tyler Guillory finished ninth in the 110m hurdles at 14.33w (2.5).
"We feel like this is what track and field needs to do in having this type of competition," said Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry. "For us to start with two collegiate records is fantastic for our team. They looked really good doing it. Both are big achievements, particular with a freshman on the end of the men's relay and sophomore on the end of the women's relay."
With a line-up of Diamond Spaulding, Brenessa Thompson, Jaevin Reed (50.9), and Jazmine Fray (2:02.3), the Aggie women bettered the field by four seconds as LSU (3:43.17) placed second and Mississippi (3:48.14) finished third.
Texas A&M women had produced the third best collegiate time (3:42.10) in winning the Texas Relays earlier this season. Just before they ran the event in the SEC Relays, Oregon set a collegiate best of 3:39.05 at the Penn Relays to better the previous record of 3:41.78 set by Tennessee in 2004.
"We were so excited about our Texas Relays win and our time, but we're always wanting more," stated Fray, who broke the indoor 800m collegiate record this season. "We're so excited to have broken the collegiate record and want to keep more records if we can. It's so exciting, and I'm happy to have broken a record with my teammates."
In the men's sprint medley the Aggie crew consisted of Fred Kerley, Elijah Morrow, Mylik Kerley (44.8) and Devin Dixon (1:47.0). They broke the collegiate record of 3:12.13 set in 2000 by Arkansas and the Texas A&M school record of 3:15.10 which was set in 1988. Members of the Aggie school record included Derrick Florence, Stanley Kerr, Errington Lindo and Matt Dunn.
Finishing behind Texas A&M with a 3:12.25, the fifth fastest collegiate time, was LSU while Arkansas claimed third in 3:15.28.
"My mind was blown when I heard we broke the collegiate record," said Dixon, who ran on the Aggies 4x400 collegiate record indoors. "Another collegiate record is a good feeling. I wanted to run my own pace and not someone else's pace, it worked."
Mylik Kerley added: "Every time I line up with these guys it's always fun. There were no slouches on the 400m leg of this race. I knew I needed to do my job and get the stick to Devin in good shape for the anchor leg. We always think breaking a record is a possibility."
The Aggies also won the men's 4x800 with a time of 7:24.55 with the crew of Ian Cazares (1:51.63), Efrain Hernandez (1:50.46), Gaines Kinsey (1:50.80) and JaQwae Ellison 91:51.66), breaking the stadium record of 7:31.86 set by Akron in 2011. Runner-up to Texas A&M was Arkansas (7:33.21) with Mississippi State (7:40.70) in third.
In the women's 4x800 the Aggies placed fourth with a time of 8:46.97, running a foursome of Katie Willard (2:08.70), Arin Rice (2:11.06), Hannah Campbell (2:13.75), Brittany Parker (2:13.46). They finished behind Arkansas (8:33.97), Mississippi State (8:39.06) and LSU (8:44.46).
Through those four relay events the combined team score in the SEC Relays has Texas A&M leading with 35 points as Arkansas and LSU are tied with 27 points while Mississippi State is fourth with 20.
Aggie victories on the first day of the SEC Relays included Serena Brown improving her Bahamas national record in the discus with a throw of 186-6 (56.84), which also moves Brown to No. 2 on the 2017 world junior list.
Brown started by improving her previous best by an inch in the third round, with a toss of 179-5 (54.68). In the fourth round she belted out a seven-foot improvement to take the lead from Janeah Stewart of Mississippi, who finished second with her opening round toss of 183-9 (56.00). Aggie Celine Markert placed sixth at 163-0 (49.68).
Audie Wyatt claimed the pole vault with a 17-9 ¼ (5.42) clearance in a dual with Alabama's Will Herrscher, who cleared the same height but needed an extra attempt at 17-1 ½ (5.22). Another pair of Aggies, Carl Johansson (17-5 ½) and Jacob Wooten (16-7 ½), placed third and tied for fourth.
Will Williams was the top collegian in the long jump with a windy best of 26-2 ¾w (7.99), finishing behind a 26-9 ¾ (8.17) from professional Damar Forbes. Texas A&M's Jeffrey Prothro turned in a 24-5w for ninth place.
A throw of 200-1 (60.98) placed Alison Ondrusek third in the hammer while Carissa van Beek hit a mark of 183-9 (56.00) for seventh place. Jeff Bartlett threw 191-1 (58.24) for third place in the men's discus as Brody Gowing placed 10th with a 168-8 (51.40). Kara Erickson tied for seventh in the high jump at 5-7 (1.70).
In non-scoring events the Aggies produced a winner in the 5,000 meters with Jacob Perry clocking 14:49.22. Joining Perry in the 5km race were teammates Christian Farris (14:50.48) in third and Austin Wells (14:58.86) in fifth.
In the women's race Kelsie Warren led the Aggie crew with a runner-up finish in 17:03.62 while Devin Norton (17:36.05) placed fourth. Ashton Hutcherson posted a time 10:47.30 to place third among collegians in the 3,000m steeplechase and fourth overall.
Elijah Morrow was the top collegian at 200m, and second overall, with a 20.67w (2.8 wind) as teammate Jace Comick (21.34w) placed ninth.
Robert Grant finished as runner-up in the 400m hurdles with a 49.78 as his collegiate leading time of 49.40 was bettered by Kemar Mowatt of Arkansas, who won the race in 49.09. Aggie Ilolo Izu placed fifth with a 51.47 career best while Infinite Tucker ran 52.77 for seventh place. In the women's 400m hurdles Lauren Lawless ran another career best as her 59.34 placed fifth.
In the 400m, Richard Rose ran 46.22 to place third in the men's race as Kadecia Baird turned in a 53.15 for third in the women's race with Glorilisha Carter (54.76) in seventh. Chinyere Njoku placed eighth in the 100m hurdles with a 13.64 (1.8 wind) while Tyler Guillory finished ninth in the 110m hurdles at 14.33w (2.5).
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