This time next week, the sand pits will be raked, blocks will be set, chalk in the air and the bell lap will be rung when the Texas A&M track & field teams open the Gilliam Indoor Stadium doors to host the Ted Nelson Invitational on Jan. 16.
It's been 322 days since the gun last went off for Texas A&M due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other teams, the Aggies are eager to hit the oval for the first time since Feb. 29, 2020.
BACK FOR MORE
Track and field head coach Pat Henry returns a load of talent on both the men's and women's teams from his 2020 squads. Six of the 11 Aggies that earned All-America honors in 2020 return for the 2021 indoor season. Five of those six earned All-America honors in multiple events, including Tyra Gittens who was the only Division I athlete, male or female, to earn three honors in three individual events. Other returning Aggies that earned multiple honors include Deborah Acquah (Long jump, Triple jump), Syaira Richardson (400m, 4x400m), Charokee Young (800m, 4x400m) and Bryce Deadmon (400m, 4x400m). Tierra Robinson-Jones earned All-America honors as a member of the 4x400m relay.
The Maroon & White return five All-SEC members from 2020, including three conference champions in Gittens (Pentathlon), Acquah (Long jump) and Deadmon (400m, 4x400m). Jon Bishop (3000m) and Young (800m) each earned All-SEC honors in their respective events. Gittens returns as the defending Cliff Harper Award winner, which is given to the highest point scorer at the SEC Championships. The multi-athlete scored 21 points claiming the pentathlon title, placing third in the high jump and fifth in the long jump.
Texas A&M's men's team found much success at the 2020 SEC Indoor Championships and return nine of its 15 point scorers including Bishop, Deadmon, Eric Casarez, Zach Davis, Logan Freeman, Gavin Hoffpauir, Jake Lamberth, Zephyr Seagraves and Emmanuel Yeboah. The women's team return nearly 89% of its point scorers from last season with Acquah, Gittens, Robinson-Jones, Young and Syaira Richardson.
FRESH FACES
Coach Henry reloaded with one of the nation's top women's recruiting classes of 2020 by signing three of the top-20 recruits in the nation. Athing Mu, the overall No. 1 recruit according to Milesplit.com, hails from Trenton, New Jersey and is as versatile as they get. She was ranked No. 1 in the US at the prep level in the 400m (51.98), 600m (1:23.57) and 1000m (2:44.43). Last February, she set the American record in the 600m becoming the second-fastest woman in history and boasting a personal best 800m time of 2:01.17. Dominique Mustin, Laila Owens and Sydnee Stewart each were highly touted recruits that are expected to make an impact as freshmen.
The men's squad also brought in a deep and talented group of newcomers capable of making an immediate impact. Top freshmen to wear the Maroon & White in 2021 include Carter Bajoit, Allon Clay, Kirk Collins, Jr., Omajuwa Etiwe and Brandon Miller. Also of note, Aggie football running back and Orange Bowl MVP Devon Achane plans to enter the mix midway through the indoor season. Clay and Miller look to fill the 800m shoes after Carlton Orange and Devin Dixon each have exhausted indoor eligibility. The foursome is expected to enter the 2021 outdoor season as one of the nation's top 800m group. With Deadmon the lone returner from last year's nation-leading 4x400m team, Clay, Etiwe and Miller, along with other returners, will have their opportunities to land a spot on the relay.
True freshmen won't be the only new faces competing for the Aggies, Texas A&M landed some of the nation's top transfers. Annie Fuller, a grad transfer from Michigan State, is a four-time All-American that joins an experienced distance squad. James Smith, Jr. is a two-time All-American who spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats. During his time in Tucson, he contributed to the 4x400m and distance medley relays, while specializing in the 400m hurdles. Smith finished runner up in the 400m hurdles (49.84) at the Pan American U20 Championships in 2019. Moitalel Mpoke, a two-time NJCAA champion, is one of the nation's top Juco transfers. A mid-year transfer, Mpoke is expected to provide the Aggies with additional strength in the 400m (46.32) and 800m (1:50.72). Darius Clark, a transfer from Florida State, and Zhane Smith, a transfer from Kentucky, each provide depth in the horizontal jumps. Sean Clarke, an Ivy League transfer from Penn and two-time All-American, has a personal best pole vault clearance of 5.50m/18-0.5
Spectators can catch the Maroon & White in Aggieland on three occasions this indoor season, the Ted Nelson Invitational (Jan. 16), Aggie Invitational (Jan. 23) and Charlie Thomas Invitational (Feb. 6).
Due to capacity restrictions, tickets to all three home indoor meets are extremely limited. Season tickets will not be available for purchase. These guidelines are for the indoor season only, details for the 2021 outdoor season will be announced at a later date.
All tickets will be general admission and are available only online via 12thman.com/tracktickets, until the limited amount has been sold. General admission tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for youth. Fans who wish to attend meets must buy tickets in advance as there will be no ticket sales at the stadium on the day of competition.
It's been 322 days since the gun last went off for Texas A&M due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other teams, the Aggies are eager to hit the oval for the first time since Feb. 29, 2020.
BACK FOR MORE
Track and field head coach Pat Henry returns a load of talent on both the men's and women's teams from his 2020 squads. Six of the 11 Aggies that earned All-America honors in 2020 return for the 2021 indoor season. Five of those six earned All-America honors in multiple events, including Tyra Gittens who was the only Division I athlete, male or female, to earn three honors in three individual events. Other returning Aggies that earned multiple honors include Deborah Acquah (Long jump, Triple jump), Syaira Richardson (400m, 4x400m), Charokee Young (800m, 4x400m) and Bryce Deadmon (400m, 4x400m). Tierra Robinson-Jones earned All-America honors as a member of the 4x400m relay.
The Maroon & White return five All-SEC members from 2020, including three conference champions in Gittens (Pentathlon), Acquah (Long jump) and Deadmon (400m, 4x400m). Jon Bishop (3000m) and Young (800m) each earned All-SEC honors in their respective events. Gittens returns as the defending Cliff Harper Award winner, which is given to the highest point scorer at the SEC Championships. The multi-athlete scored 21 points claiming the pentathlon title, placing third in the high jump and fifth in the long jump.
Texas A&M's men's team found much success at the 2020 SEC Indoor Championships and return nine of its 15 point scorers including Bishop, Deadmon, Eric Casarez, Zach Davis, Logan Freeman, Gavin Hoffpauir, Jake Lamberth, Zephyr Seagraves and Emmanuel Yeboah. The women's team return nearly 89% of its point scorers from last season with Acquah, Gittens, Robinson-Jones, Young and Syaira Richardson.
FRESH FACES
Coach Henry reloaded with one of the nation's top women's recruiting classes of 2020 by signing three of the top-20 recruits in the nation. Athing Mu, the overall No. 1 recruit according to Milesplit.com, hails from Trenton, New Jersey and is as versatile as they get. She was ranked No. 1 in the US at the prep level in the 400m (51.98), 600m (1:23.57) and 1000m (2:44.43). Last February, she set the American record in the 600m becoming the second-fastest woman in history and boasting a personal best 800m time of 2:01.17. Dominique Mustin, Laila Owens and Sydnee Stewart each were highly touted recruits that are expected to make an impact as freshmen.
The men's squad also brought in a deep and talented group of newcomers capable of making an immediate impact. Top freshmen to wear the Maroon & White in 2021 include Carter Bajoit, Allon Clay, Kirk Collins, Jr., Omajuwa Etiwe and Brandon Miller. Also of note, Aggie football running back and Orange Bowl MVP Devon Achane plans to enter the mix midway through the indoor season. Clay and Miller look to fill the 800m shoes after Carlton Orange and Devin Dixon each have exhausted indoor eligibility. The foursome is expected to enter the 2021 outdoor season as one of the nation's top 800m group. With Deadmon the lone returner from last year's nation-leading 4x400m team, Clay, Etiwe and Miller, along with other returners, will have their opportunities to land a spot on the relay.
True freshmen won't be the only new faces competing for the Aggies, Texas A&M landed some of the nation's top transfers. Annie Fuller, a grad transfer from Michigan State, is a four-time All-American that joins an experienced distance squad. James Smith, Jr. is a two-time All-American who spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats. During his time in Tucson, he contributed to the 4x400m and distance medley relays, while specializing in the 400m hurdles. Smith finished runner up in the 400m hurdles (49.84) at the Pan American U20 Championships in 2019. Moitalel Mpoke, a two-time NJCAA champion, is one of the nation's top Juco transfers. A mid-year transfer, Mpoke is expected to provide the Aggies with additional strength in the 400m (46.32) and 800m (1:50.72). Darius Clark, a transfer from Florida State, and Zhane Smith, a transfer from Kentucky, each provide depth in the horizontal jumps. Sean Clarke, an Ivy League transfer from Penn and two-time All-American, has a personal best pole vault clearance of 5.50m/18-0.5
Spectators can catch the Maroon & White in Aggieland on three occasions this indoor season, the Ted Nelson Invitational (Jan. 16), Aggie Invitational (Jan. 23) and Charlie Thomas Invitational (Feb. 6).
Due to capacity restrictions, tickets to all three home indoor meets are extremely limited. Season tickets will not be available for purchase. These guidelines are for the indoor season only, details for the 2021 outdoor season will be announced at a later date.
All tickets will be general admission and are available only online via 12thman.com/tracktickets, until the limited amount has been sold. General admission tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for youth. Fans who wish to attend meets must buy tickets in advance as there will be no ticket sales at the stadium on the day of competition.