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COLLEGE STATION, TX - January 25, 2025 - Debora Cherono of the Texas A&M Aggies during the Ted Nelson Invitational at R.A. ?Murray? Fasken ?38 Indoor Track & Field in College Station, TX. Photo By Wesley Bowers/Texas A&M AthleticsCOLLEGE STATION, TX - January 25, 2025 - Debora Cherono of the Texas A&M Aggies during the Ted Nelson Invitational at R.A. ?Murray? Fasken ?38 Indoor Track & Field in College Station, TX. Photo By Wesley Bowers/Texas A&M Athletics
Wesley Bowers/Texas A&M Athletics
Track and Field

Cherono Takes Down Mile School Record for Second-Straight Week

Texas A&M's Debora Cherono broke her own women's mile school record in the second-straight meet as the Aggies had impressive showings at the John Thomas Terrier Classic and New Mexico Team Open Friday.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M's Debora Cherono broke her own women's mile school record in the second-straight meet as the Aggies had impressive showings at the John Thomas Terrier Classic and New Mexico Team Open Friday.
 
The Maroon & White put on a standout display in two locations, as the distance squad recorded a school record and four all-time marks in Boston, while the team in New Mexico claimed an event win and three all-time performances.
 
Cherono continued to rewrite the A&M history books, as she downed the mile school record for the second time in back-to-back weeks lowering her previous best by over two seconds. She crossed the line in 4:38.08 to win the third heat of the event and place 17th overall among a stacked field of top collegiates and pros. Elise Smoot also had a career-best showing, as she placed third in her heat with a personal-best mark of 4:47.63 to now hold the No. 6 spot on the all-time list.
 
Continuing to make dents in the records books, the Maroon & White had two new risers in the 5,000m in Boston as Megan Roberts and Kennady Fontenot both ran career-best times. Roberts won the second heat of the event with a mark of 16:08.08 which debuted her at No. 4 all-time, while Fontenot moved up two spots to No. 7 following a time of 16:15.23.
 
Shifting to the New Mexico Team Open, Sam Whitmarsh made his indoor debut, and the Preseason Bowerman Watchlist member started the year on top as he won the men's 600m. He crossed the line in 1:16.90 and finished over a second in front of his closest competitor.
 
Denting the history books continued to be a theme in Albuquerque as Mason Mangum and Khybah Dawson placed second and third, respectively, in the long jump both with all-time marks. Mangum leaped 7.82m/25-8 which ranks him No. 7 all-time, while Dawson recorded a mark of 7.69m/25-2.75 which was good for 11th.
 
The women's long jump group continued the momentum in the field, logging three finishers in the top eight. Winny Bii leaped a personal-best mark of 6.12m/20-1 to lead the A&M contingent to place second. Sofia Yakushina was close behind in fourth with a jump of 6.01m/19-8.75 and Victoria Kadiri was eighth with a leap of 5.69m/18-8.
 
Jasmine Montgomery and Camryn Dickson capped off the day in the women's 200m, with a second and fourth place results, respectively. Montgomery had a career day, as she claimed the third heat in a time of 22.96 which debuts her at the No. 8 spot on the all-time list, while Dickson secured a season-best mark of 23.44.
 
A&M racked up another five top-five finishes in New Mexico, with two coming in the field and three on the track. Carter Bajoit placed second in the men's high jump with a clearance of 2.12m/6-11.5, while Milena Chevallier was fifth on the women's side of the event with a mark of 1.71m/5-7.25. On the oval, Devante Mount logged a personal-best time of 20.99 in the unseeded 200m to place third, DeMarco Escobar was fourth in the 400m in 47.41 and Omarion Ferguson was also fourth in the 200m invite with a time of 21.06.
 
Next Up
The Aggies return to action tomorrow for the second day of both the New Mexico Team Open and John Thomas Terrier Open.
 
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.