Aggies Secure Multiple All-Time Performances to Open the Weekend

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M track & field's Ja'Qualon Scott climbed to the No. 2 spot in the nation in the men's 60m hurdles on the opening day of the Tiger Paw Invitational on Clemson's campus, while Madison Brown and Kennady Fontenot entered the top-12 5,000m all-time performers list at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston.
 
Tiger Paw Invitational
Scott put on a show in the men's 60m hurdles across the prelim, semifinal and final. In the second round, he ran a blistering 7.60 which ranks him second in the nation and moved him to No. 2 on the A&M all-time performers list. He finished second in the final in 7.68, while teammate Connor Schulman placed third in 7.75.
 
Heather Abadie shone in the women's invitational section of the pole vault as she finished second clearing the second-highest bar in school history which was set at 4.35m/14-3.25. In the other section of the vault, Ella Vajdos had a career day clearing a personal best 3.95m/12-11 to place third.
 
In the women's 400m, Jermaisha Arnold ran a season-best time of 51.75 placing second. She now holds the nation's eighth-fastest time in the event, while Kennady Wade finished ninth with a season-best 52.69. On the men's side of the 400m, Auhmad Robinson ran the eighth-best time in the nation this year going 45.66, while Jevon O'Bryant clocked a season best 46.58 and Cutler Zamzow added a personal best in the event, as he ran 47.06.
 
In the women's 60m, Semira Killebrew tied her season-best time of 7.22 in the semifinals to secure a spot in the final. Meanwhile, Camryn Dickson (60m), Devante Mount (60m), Jaiya Covington (60m hurdles) and Arveyon Davis (60m hurdles) all reached the semifinals of their respective events.
 
Coach's Quotes
Head coach Pat Henry on the opening day of the Tiger Paw Invitational…
"I was really impressed with our group as a whole today. I thought a lot of our athletes really stepped up and performed at a high level.
 
"I thought our hurdle group continued to show that they can compete with anyone in the nation today. Our entire 400m group, I thought, ran well today and all nearly had season or personal bests. Then Heather [Abadie] in the pole vault did a really good job on clearing big vaults on her third attempt which is an important skill to learn."
 
David Hemery Valentine Invitational
Brown and Fontenot highlighted the distance group's first day of competition in Boston as they in the each secured a place on the all-time performers list following personal-best performances in the women's 5,000m. Brown finished the race in 16:20.39 which landed her at No. 6 all-time, while Fontenot concluded her event in 16:35.00 to stand at No. 12.
 
The women's mile group was led by Elise Smoot, as she finished the race in 4:52.01. She was followed by Avery Perkins shortly after in 4:55.24, while Austin Owen ran a personal best time of 4:56.65.
 
Coach's Quotes
Assistant coach Wendel McRaven on the first day of the invitational…
"We come to a meet like this to race people we don't usually see, and we can compete against the best in the nation and I thought that brought the best out of our group.
 
"I thought Madison [Brown] and Kennady [Fontenot] raced really well today, they both ran times to land on our all-time performers list which is great, and I think they're trending in the right direction."
 
Next Up
The Aggies return to the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex and Boston University Track for the final days of their invitationals.
 
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