Ilolo Izu first Aggie winner of Texas Relays 400m hurdles since 1996

Photo by: Errol Anderson

Mar 30, 2018 | Track and Field

AUSTIN – Texas A&M junior Ilolo Izu cruised to a career best time of 50.00 seconds in winning the 400m hurdles at the 91^st Texas Relays. It marks only the second time for an Aggie to win the event at this meet, the previous victor was Ricky Pfister in 1996.

"This is something that is pretty big for me," noted Izu. "I've been coming to the Texas Relays since I was a sophomore in high school. So, being able to run at this meet, win and have a PR is pretty good. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do since I didn't break 50, but it's still a good win.

"Being able to run with my teammates again today helped me a lot. It helped me focus and run to the best of my abilities today. I could definitely feel it in the last 50m of the race. I thought, 'oh snap', this is about to happen. It was pretty cool."

Izu's time remains the third fastest by American in 2018 and is the Division I collegiate leader. On the Aggie all-time list Izu moves to No. 9.

The Invitational 400m hurdle race was claimed by Kemar Mowatt of Arkansas in 50.49 while Texas A&M occupied second and third place with DeWitt Thomas posting a 51.63 and Infinite Tucker clocking 52.30. Joining Izu in the University race was Jackson Davis, who finished eighth in 52.07.

Freshman Gabriel Oladipo claimed Texas A&M's first victory of the Texas Relays in the B section of the men's shot put. His winning mark measured 55-7 ¾ (16.96) to better the runner-up effort of 54-10 (16.71) by Corey Claiborne of Belmont.

It was the first shot put win for an Aggie male at this meet since 2004, while Shelbi Vaughan claimed a B section title in the women's shot put in 2013.

Friday's portion of the Texas Relays also included three runner-up performances by Texas A&M in relay events and one third place. The Aggies were second in the men's sprint medley as well as both distance medley relays and they placed third in the women's sprint medley.

The men's sprint medley posted a time of 3:16.06 with a foursome of Richard Rose, Bryce Deadmon, Kyree Johnson and Devin Dixon. That performance ranks No. 5 on the Aggie all-time list with the No. 6 performance. Texas Tech won the race in 3:14.20 with Clemson finishing third in 3:18.78

In the men's distance medley the crew of Ian Cazares, Rose, JaQwae Ellison and Alex Riba posted a time of 9:44.29 to finish behind the 9:43.99 by Texas while Arkansas was third in 9:44.54.

A close race in the women's distance medley relay had Clemson edging the Aggies with a winning time of 11:08.71. Texas A&M produced its fastest outdoor time in the relay at 11:09.43 with the quartet of Sammy Watson (3:25.06), Glorilisha Carter (52.80), Brittany Parker (2:06.61) and Jazmine Fray (4:44.96).

Texas A&M led the women's sprint medley as the handoffs reached the anchor leg with the order of Amber Ivy, Diamond Spaulding, Julia Madubuike and Jean Jenkins. Baylor, with an anchor 800m leg of 2:04.11 by Aaliyah Miller, claimed the victory in 3:43.87. LSU clipped the Aggies at the finish line, 3:47.00 to 3:47.10.

Kristen Clark used a last round throw of 166-11 (50.88) to move into third place of the javelin. Former Texas A&M volunteer assistant Ariana Ince won the competition with a heave of 190-2 (57.97), the second best throw by an American this season and ranks 13^th on the 2018 world list.

Also competing in the javelin for the Aggies were Audrey Malone, who placed 10^th with a 150-3 (45.80) in her season debut, and Madalaine Stulce, 11^th with a 149-6 (45.56).

In the men's javelin Sam Hardin placed fourth with a toss of 235-11 (71.91) as William Petersson finished sixth with a career best of 229-0 (69.80) that moves him to No. 11 on the Aggie all-time list.

Celine Markert was third in the B section shot put with a toss of 47-3 ¼ (14.42) while Lajarvia Brown finished sixth in the B section long jump with a windy leap of 20-1 (6.12).

Two Aggie triple jumpers each finished fourth with Tahar Triki hitting a mark of 51-9 ¾w (15.79) and Lajarvia Brown reaching a distance of 42-3 ½ (12.89).

Sara Kathryn Stevens attempted an outdoor school record of 13-11 ¼ (4.25) in the pole vault as she placed sixth with her clearance of 13-7 ¼ (4.15). The effort by Stevens equals the No. 5 performance on the Aggie all-time list.

Racing in the Invitational section of the women's 400m hurdles, Lauren Lawless ran 1:00.64 in placing sixth.

Oladipo contested the discus later in the day following his shot put victory and placed 11^th with a throw of 177-10 (54.20). Two post-collegians threw over 200 feet in the event with Reggie Jagers taking the win at 214-9 (65.46) with Rodney Brown runner-up with a 208-1 (63.42). The top collegian was Nebraska's Nicholas Perry with a 193-3 (58.91).

In prelim races held Friday morning, the Aggies advanced both 4x100 relay squads along with Brenessa Thompson in the women's 100m.

The Texas A&M women won their prelim heat of the 4x100 in 44.43 with a lineup of Amber Ivy, Diamond Spaulding, Thompson and Julia Madubuike. The men were runner-up in their prelim heat of the 4x100 in 40.17 with a crew of Will Williams, Mylik Kerley, Bryce Deadmon and Kyree Johnson.

Thompson clocked an 11.32w (2.2 wind) to place second in her heat of the 100 and eighth overall to reach the nine-person final. Ivy ran 11.41w (3.4 wind) to place 11^th overall.

In the 100m hurdles, Zharia Moore placed 11^th overall with a 13.55w (2.9 wind) while Tyler Guillory finished 14^th in the 110m hurdles with a 14.13. Chinyere Njoku posted a time of 13.78w (3.0) in the 100m hurdles while Taryn Milton clocked 14.04w (2.8).