Fred Kerley, Landon Helms
Kerley Wins 100m USATF Title, Helms Claims U20 Decathlon Gold
Jun 24, 2022 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Tokyo Olympic 100m silver medalist and former Texas A&M 400m national champion Fred Kerley won the USATF 100m championship, while Aggie signee Landon Helms claimed the USATF U20 decathlon title, Friday night at Hayward Field.
Kerley won the 100m title with a time of 9.77 (1.8w). It marks the third career USATF gold medal and first in the 100m after winning two in the 400m in 2019 (43.64) and 2017 (44.03). More impressively, the 27-year-old started his night winning the 100m semifinals with a world-leading time and personal best at 9.76 (1.4w), the fastest time ever ran on U.S. soil. It was the speedster's second world-leading time in as many days after running 9.83 (1.5w) in the first round Thursday night.
The Taylor, Texas, native's personal best ranks as the sixth fastest in world history and third fastest American all-time. Considered as one of the fastest sprinters on earth, Kerley is one of three men ever to run a sub-10 second in the 100m, sub-20 second in the 200m and sub-44 second in the 400m in their career.
Helms dominated day two en route to winning the USATF U20 decathlon with 6,425 points. The Emmett, Idaho, product opened the day running 14.40 in the 110m hurdles, a full second faster than the closest competitor. Helms extended his lead after clearing 14-3.25/4.35m in the pole vault.
Eight Aggies advanced in their respective races, including five that donned the Maroon & White during the 2022 collegiate season. Two-time Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu controlled the women's 800m semifinals winning with a time of 1:57.55, while Aggie All-American Brandon Miller led the men's 800m semifinal wire-to-wire finishing at 1:46.20.
Adidas professional Shamier Little advanced to the women's 400m hurdles final at 55.60, while Nike professional Bryce Deadmon earned a lane in the men's 400m final at 44.95.
Kaylah Robinson and James Smith II each moved on to the semifinals of their respective races. Robinson ran 12.75 in the women's 100m hurdles and Smith II clocked 50.56 in the men's 400m hurdles.
All-American Ashton Schwartzman advanced to the men's U20 400m finals after running the second fastest qualifying time at 46.25, while Kennedy Wade registered the second fastest qualifying time in the women's U20 400m at 53.18.
Former Texas A&M national champion Will Williams placed fourth in the men's long jump at 26-5.75/8.07m.
In Jamaica, Aggie All-American Chevannie Hanson advanced to the Jamaican National Championships 400m semifinals with a time of 45.99.
Live results for the USATF U20 Championships can be followed here, while the USATF Championships can be followed here. For more information on the television and webcast schedule, click here.
USATF Outdoor Championships Remaining Schedule
Saturday, June 25
1:30 pm – Women's Javelin (Final) – Maggie Malone
1:45 pm – Men's 200m (First Round) – Fred Kerley
2:00 pm – Men's Pole Vault (Final) – Jacob Wooten
3:04 pm – Women's 100m Hurdles (Semifinals) – Kaylah Robinson
3:22 pm – Men's 400m Hurdles (Semifinals) – James Smith II
4:31 pm – Men's 400m (Final) – (Bryce Deadmon)
4:41 pm – Women's 100m Hurdles (Final) – Kaylah Robinson
4:51 pm – Women's 400m Hurdles (Final – Shamier Little
Sunday, June 26
2:30 pm – Men's 200m (Semifinals) – (Fred Kerley)
3:18 pm – Women's 5000m (Finals) – Natosha Rogers
3:40 pm – Men's 400m Hurdles (Finals) – (James Smith II)
3:48 pm – Men's 800m (Finals) – Brandon Miller
3:54 pm – Women's 800m (Finals) – Athing Mu
4:38 pm – Men's 200m (Finals) – (Fred Kerley)
USATF U20 Outdoor Championships Remaining Schedule
Saturday, June 25
5:24 pm – Women's 200m (First Round) – Camryn Dickson
6:17 pm – Women's 400m (Finals) – Kennedy Wade
6:25 pm – Men's 400m (Finals) – Ashton Schwartzman
7:29 pm – Women's 200m (Finals) – (Camryn Dickson)
For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@aggietfxc).
Kerley won the 100m title with a time of 9.77 (1.8w). It marks the third career USATF gold medal and first in the 100m after winning two in the 400m in 2019 (43.64) and 2017 (44.03). More impressively, the 27-year-old started his night winning the 100m semifinals with a world-leading time and personal best at 9.76 (1.4w), the fastest time ever ran on U.S. soil. It was the speedster's second world-leading time in as many days after running 9.83 (1.5w) in the first round Thursday night.
The Taylor, Texas, native's personal best ranks as the sixth fastest in world history and third fastest American all-time. Considered as one of the fastest sprinters on earth, Kerley is one of three men ever to run a sub-10 second in the 100m, sub-20 second in the 200m and sub-44 second in the 400m in their career.
Helms dominated day two en route to winning the USATF U20 decathlon with 6,425 points. The Emmett, Idaho, product opened the day running 14.40 in the 110m hurdles, a full second faster than the closest competitor. Helms extended his lead after clearing 14-3.25/4.35m in the pole vault.
Eight Aggies advanced in their respective races, including five that donned the Maroon & White during the 2022 collegiate season. Two-time Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu controlled the women's 800m semifinals winning with a time of 1:57.55, while Aggie All-American Brandon Miller led the men's 800m semifinal wire-to-wire finishing at 1:46.20.
Adidas professional Shamier Little advanced to the women's 400m hurdles final at 55.60, while Nike professional Bryce Deadmon earned a lane in the men's 400m final at 44.95.
Kaylah Robinson and James Smith II each moved on to the semifinals of their respective races. Robinson ran 12.75 in the women's 100m hurdles and Smith II clocked 50.56 in the men's 400m hurdles.
All-American Ashton Schwartzman advanced to the men's U20 400m finals after running the second fastest qualifying time at 46.25, while Kennedy Wade registered the second fastest qualifying time in the women's U20 400m at 53.18.
Former Texas A&M national champion Will Williams placed fourth in the men's long jump at 26-5.75/8.07m.
In Jamaica, Aggie All-American Chevannie Hanson advanced to the Jamaican National Championships 400m semifinals with a time of 45.99.
Live results for the USATF U20 Championships can be followed here, while the USATF Championships can be followed here. For more information on the television and webcast schedule, click here.
USATF Outdoor Championships Remaining Schedule
Saturday, June 25
1:30 pm – Women's Javelin (Final) – Maggie Malone
1:45 pm – Men's 200m (First Round) – Fred Kerley
2:00 pm – Men's Pole Vault (Final) – Jacob Wooten
3:04 pm – Women's 100m Hurdles (Semifinals) – Kaylah Robinson
3:22 pm – Men's 400m Hurdles (Semifinals) – James Smith II
4:31 pm – Men's 400m (Final) – (Bryce Deadmon)
4:41 pm – Women's 100m Hurdles (Final) – Kaylah Robinson
4:51 pm – Women's 400m Hurdles (Final – Shamier Little
Sunday, June 26
2:30 pm – Men's 200m (Semifinals) – (Fred Kerley)
3:18 pm – Women's 5000m (Finals) – Natosha Rogers
3:40 pm – Men's 400m Hurdles (Finals) – (James Smith II)
3:48 pm – Men's 800m (Finals) – Brandon Miller
3:54 pm – Women's 800m (Finals) – Athing Mu
4:38 pm – Men's 200m (Finals) – (Fred Kerley)
USATF U20 Outdoor Championships Remaining Schedule
Saturday, June 25
5:24 pm – Women's 200m (First Round) – Camryn Dickson
6:17 pm – Women's 400m (Finals) – Kennedy Wade
6:25 pm – Men's 400m (Finals) – Ashton Schwartzman
7:29 pm – Women's 200m (Finals) – (Camryn Dickson)
For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@aggietfxc).
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