Aggies Claim Two Event Titles, Gittens Leads Heptathlon

Tyra Gittens running the 200m

Photo by: Sydney Morriss/Texas A&M Athletics

Apr 09, 2021 | Track and Field

By: Tyler Pounds, Athletics Communications

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M men's and women's track & field teams won two event titles, while Tyra Gittens leads the heptathlon after day one action of the Texas A&M Team Invitational Friday at E.B. Cushing Stadium.

Gittens leads the heptathlon with 3,869 points after winning all four day one events. The redshirt junior opened her day clocking an all-conditions personal best 100m hurdles time of 13.14 (w/+3.5). The Trinidad and Tobago native won her next two field events, the high jump (1.82m/5-11.5) and shot put (12.85m/42-2) before winning the 200m at an all-conditions personal best time of 23.33 (w/+4.4).

Fellow multi-athlete Allyson Andress finished day one in fourth place with 3,048 points. Andress either equaled or bettered her personal bests in two events, the 100m hurdles (14.71, w/+4.0) and high jump (1.73m/5-8).

The Aggie momentum carried into the evening as Carter Bajoit and Zhane Smith each won their respective events.

Bajoit won the men's high jump clearing a personal best height of 2.15m/7-0.5. The high flyer cleared his first two bars of 2.00m/6-6.75 and 2.05m/6-8.75 on first attempts. With his back up against the wall, the freshman soared over 2.10m/6-10.75 on his third attempt. The Woodlands, Texas, native, cleared 2.15m/7-0.5 on his second attempt, which held up to be the winner. Mason Corbin placed third at 2.10m/6-10.75.

Smith led a competitive women's long jump competition with a winning mark of 6.45m/21-2 (w/+2.6), an all-conditions personal best. After fouling on her first two tries, she leaped her way into the finals with a jump of 6.45m/21-2. Heading into the finals tied with G'Auna Edwards, the fourth round proved to be crucial as Smith landing at 6.24m/20-5.75, while Edwards landed at 4.54m/14-10.75. Smith was declared the winner, by having a better second mark than Edwards in her series of jumps.

Aggie teammate Deborah Acquah placed third with a season best 6.43m/21-1.25 (w/+3.6).

Six other Aggies recorded top three finishes in their respective events. Aggies placing second in their event include Josh Brown in the hammer (56.72m/186-1, personal best), Jenna Ellis in the javelin (44.43m/145-9), Grace Plain (17:54.37) and Joseph Benn (15:09.07) in the 5000m and Kirk Collins, Jr. in the 400m hurdles (52.43). Laila Owens finished third in the 200m (w/+3.1).

Day two action begins Saturday with the start of the men's decathlon at 10:15 a.m., while Tyra Gittens kicks off the heptathlon at 11 a.m. Field events are slated to begin at 3 p.m., followed by the start of the running events at 6:30 p.m.