Photo by: Errol Anderson
Abell Betters Second-Best Steeplechase Time in School History
Apr 14, 2023 | Track and Field
WALNUT, CA – Julia Abell improved her No. 2 time in school history as the Texas A&M men's and women's track & field teams wrapped up the second day of competition at the Mt. SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Thursday.
Running the 3000m steeplechase, Abell finished third overall with a personal best time of 10:24.67, to top her previous best of 10:25.72 set at last year's SEC championships. Abell's mark is the second-best performance in Texas A&M history, less than a half second off Annie Fuller's school record of 10:24.38, also set last year. Abell improved her season best time, topping her mark of 10:44.36 at the Raleigh Relays in March.
Joniar Thomas earned an eighth-place finish in the heptathlon, scoring 5557 points to become the seventh-best performer in school history. On Wednesday, the first day of the event, Thomas started with a 14.02 in the 100m hurdles, followed by 5-2.5/1.59m in the high jump, 35-4.5/10.78m in the shot put and ended day one with a 24.39 clocking in the 200m. Thomas showed out on day two, opening with a leap of 20-1.5/6.13m in the long jump, then a javelin toss of 132-2/40.28m before powering through a huge personal best of 2:24.04 in the 800m. Thomas' final score is a personal best, topping her previous total of 5256, and registers as a Grenadian national best.
In the men's multi-event, Thatcher Frankfather placed fifth in his first ever decathlon, scoring 7151 to lead the trio of Aggie freshmen including Landon Helms and Blake Harris. Frankfather's Wednesday included a 100m time of 10.86, 22-3/6.78m in the long jump, a shot-put toss of 45-5.25/13.85m, a high jump clearance over 5-10.75/1.80m and ended with a 49.40 in the 400m. Sitting in fourth place going into day two, Frankfather got the day started by finishing the 110m hurdles in 16.50, leading into a personal best throw of 149-1/45.44m in the discus. He then cleared 13-5.25/4.10m in the pole vault, tossed 170-9/52.05m in the javelin then used his strength to clock 4:54.48 in the 1500m.
Helms finished right behind Frankfather in sixth place, scoring 6787, setting personal bests in the shot put (38-9.5/11.82m), javelin throw (134-7/41.03m) and 1500m (4:47.77). Harris scored 6495 to bring the trio home in 11th overall.
Ending the night in the men's 3000m steeplechase, Francesco Romano finished third in his heat with a time of 9:04.96, placing sixth overall. The mark is his fastest since 2021 and less than five seconds off his personal best of 9:00.55. Teddy Radtke finished 16th overall with a 9:15.93, his second-fastest time this season.
Next Up
Friday, the Aggies are led off by Julian Stoicoviciu in the men's javelin at 11 a.m. CT, while DeVante Mount starts competition on the track, running the 200m at 2:45 p.m. CT.
To follow along with the Aggies, fans can follow the live results provided by Finished Results.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, log on to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
Running the 3000m steeplechase, Abell finished third overall with a personal best time of 10:24.67, to top her previous best of 10:25.72 set at last year's SEC championships. Abell's mark is the second-best performance in Texas A&M history, less than a half second off Annie Fuller's school record of 10:24.38, also set last year. Abell improved her season best time, topping her mark of 10:44.36 at the Raleigh Relays in March.
Joniar Thomas earned an eighth-place finish in the heptathlon, scoring 5557 points to become the seventh-best performer in school history. On Wednesday, the first day of the event, Thomas started with a 14.02 in the 100m hurdles, followed by 5-2.5/1.59m in the high jump, 35-4.5/10.78m in the shot put and ended day one with a 24.39 clocking in the 200m. Thomas showed out on day two, opening with a leap of 20-1.5/6.13m in the long jump, then a javelin toss of 132-2/40.28m before powering through a huge personal best of 2:24.04 in the 800m. Thomas' final score is a personal best, topping her previous total of 5256, and registers as a Grenadian national best.
In the men's multi-event, Thatcher Frankfather placed fifth in his first ever decathlon, scoring 7151 to lead the trio of Aggie freshmen including Landon Helms and Blake Harris. Frankfather's Wednesday included a 100m time of 10.86, 22-3/6.78m in the long jump, a shot-put toss of 45-5.25/13.85m, a high jump clearance over 5-10.75/1.80m and ended with a 49.40 in the 400m. Sitting in fourth place going into day two, Frankfather got the day started by finishing the 110m hurdles in 16.50, leading into a personal best throw of 149-1/45.44m in the discus. He then cleared 13-5.25/4.10m in the pole vault, tossed 170-9/52.05m in the javelin then used his strength to clock 4:54.48 in the 1500m.
Helms finished right behind Frankfather in sixth place, scoring 6787, setting personal bests in the shot put (38-9.5/11.82m), javelin throw (134-7/41.03m) and 1500m (4:47.77). Harris scored 6495 to bring the trio home in 11th overall.
Ending the night in the men's 3000m steeplechase, Francesco Romano finished third in his heat with a time of 9:04.96, placing sixth overall. The mark is his fastest since 2021 and less than five seconds off his personal best of 9:00.55. Teddy Radtke finished 16th overall with a 9:15.93, his second-fastest time this season.
Next Up
Friday, the Aggies are led off by Julian Stoicoviciu in the men's javelin at 11 a.m. CT, while DeVante Mount starts competition on the track, running the 200m at 2:45 p.m. CT.
To follow along with the Aggies, fans can follow the live results provided by Finished Results.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, log on to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Multis
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track and Field
Multis
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Jumps
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