Aggies Travel to Waco for the Michael Johnson Invitational

Friday, April 16

Waco, Texas

Texas A&M

Michael Johnson Invitational

Lance Broome

Photo by: Sydney Morriss/Texas A&M Athletics

Apr 15, 2021 | Track and Field

Live Results

By: Tyler Pounds, Athletics Communications

WACO, Texas – A week after hosting its first outdoor meet, the Texas A&M men's and women's track & field teams are back on the road making the short trip to Waco to compete in the Michael Johnson Invitational at the Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium.

Texas A&M enters the two-day meet toeing the line against Baylor and other top Big 12 teams, including Texas Tech, Texas, TCU and Kansas State.

How to Follow
Those wanting to make the short trip on highway six can attend the meet buy purchasing tickets through the Baylor athletics website (Click Here). Those unable to attend can follow @aggietfxc on Twitter for live updates as well as following live results provided by Delta Timing. No live stream is provided.

Texas A&M Preview
The Maroon & White enter the competition ranked in the top 10 in the nation, the women's team is No. 4 and the men's team is No. 8.

Fifteen Aggies suit up for day one action, including K.J. Grimes and Alessio Pirruccio in the hammer throw, while Jon Bishop and fellow distance crew members pace the track in the 1,500m and 5,000m races at night. A week after completing their first heptathlon of the season, multi-athletes Allyson Andress and Tyra Gittens, along with javelin specialists Jenna Ellis and Victoria De La Garza enter the open javelin at 7 p.m.

Day two presents a full slate of events with field events starting in the late morning, followed by open running events in the early afternoon. The Maroon & White enter multiple Aggies in the premier running events beginning at 5:30 p.m. Bryce Deadmon, the NCAA's No. 1 ranked 400m runner, enters the men's premier 400m race. Deadmon's season best time of 44.62 has held up as a world-leading mark since March 27. Prior to the men's 400m, Charokee Young enters the women's premier 400m as the top Aggie. Young has clocked a season best time of 51.52, which ranks No. 1 in the SEC and No. 3 in the NCAA. Athing Mu is entered in the premier 400m and premier 800m races.

Moitalel Mpoke (400m hurdles) and Devon Achane (200m) each are ranked No. 5 in the NCAA and are entered in their respective events. Mpoke runs in the premier 400m hurdles a little after 6:30 p.m., followed by Achane in the premier 200m around 7 p.m.

Zhane Smith (long jump), Sean Clarke (pole vault) and Carter Bajoit (high jump) highlight the field events in day two. All three rank in the top 25 in the nation in their respective event. Smith has a season best jump of 21-2 (6.45m), which is No. 12 in the country. Clarke is No. 17 in the nation with a season best vault of 17-9 (5.41m). Bajoit is ranked No. 23 at a clearance of 7-0.5 (2.15m).

Back-to-Back
Following her record breaking heptathlon performance, Tyra Gittens was named the women's SEC Co-Field Athlete of the Week. It was the second consecutive week earning an SEC weekly honor.

In the Rankings
Texas A&M women's team moved up to No. 4 in the nation, while the men rank No. 8. In the event squad rankings, the Aggies boast the nation's No. 1 ranked women's long jump and triple jump groups and the men's 400m and 400m hurdles group.

The Bowerman Watch List
Since being named to the initial docket on February 10, Tyra Gittens and Athing Mu were recently named to the Mid-Outdoor Bowerman Watch List. Texas A&M is the only school with multiple athletes named to the watch list.

Gittens leads the nation in the high jump at 6-2.75 (1.90m) and heptathlon at 6,274 points. She is also ranked No. 5 in the long jump at 21-10.75 (6.67m) and No. 17 in the 100m with a time of 13.14. Mu has anchored the Aggies to a perfect 3-0 in 4x400m relays this outdoor season and set an Aggie school record in the 1,500m (4:16.06), which is No. 9 in the nation.