CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, February 08–09—How can you produce the No. 4 time in history and perhaps end up with the World Record? That confusing situation presented itself after one of the greatest indoor 4x4s ever run climaxed Clemson’s Tiger Paw Invitational.
Houston led off with Amere Lattin (46.33) and Texas A&M’s Ilolo Izu was just a step behind at 46.50. Obi Igbokwe stretched the Cougar lead with a 44.93 to Bryce Deadmon’s 45.15. But on the third leg, Houston’s Jermaine Holt lost a little ground with his 45.80 to Kyree Johnson’s 45.67. Then came the fireworks. Kahmari Montgomery sealed a Houston win with his 44.45, needing every bit of it to hold off fast-charging Devin Dixon, who produced the fastest-ever relay leg in indoor history, 44.24 (topping the 44.35 that Rai Benjamin ran for USC in last year’s NCAA meet). Final times: Houston 3:01.51, A&M 3:01.56, Nos. 4 & 5 on the all-time world list.
But none of the three marks ahead of Houston on the all-time list stand as the official World Record. That honor goes to Poland’s 3:01.77 from last year, as both USC (3:00.77) and Florida (3:01.43) produced their faster times with mixed-nationality foursomes. The No. 2 time ever, 3:01.39 by A&M behind USC at last year’s NCAA, wasn’t ratified because proper testing, if it’s available, still hasn’t been filed with the IAAF. All the technical requirements for ratification (including a false-start blocks reading of 0.175) were met by meet management and a record application has been filed for Houston.
Earlier in the meet, Igbokwe had won the 400 in 45.35 to Dixon’s 45.68. In the hurdles, Kentucky junior Daniel Roberts blasted a 7.52 to tie for No. 7 among collegians ever. Mississippi State frosh Marco Arop won the 800 by more than 3 seconds with his 1:45.90, becoming No. 7 collegian all-time.
The 4×4 also stood out on the women’s side, as A&M produced a world-leading 3:29.96, anchored by Syaira Richardson’s 51.56.
TIGER PAW MEN’S RESULTS
Clemson, South Carolina, February 08–09 (200 banked)—
(2/8—60, 400, 60H, SP, LJ)
60: 1. *Cravont Charleston (NCSt) 6.54; 2. Mario Burke’ (Hous) 6.58; 3. ***Anthony Schwartz (Aub) 6.59; 4. Nick Gray (OhSt) 6.61; 5. *Daniel Roberts (Ky) 6.63.
200: I–1. Elijah Hall (NikRB) 20.55; 2. Gray 20.82. II–1. Mustaqeem Williams (Tn) 20.89; 2. *Jace Comick (TxAM) 20.93. III–1. *Kasaun James (FlSt) 20.59. VI–1. ***Bryand Rincher (FlSt) 20.90.
400: I–1. Kahmari Montgomery (Hous) 45.74.
II–1. Obi Igbokwe (Hous) 45.35 (WL, AL, CL);
2. *Devin Dixon (TxAM) 45.68.
III–1. Izaiah Brown (Rut) 46.23; 2. *Bryce Deadmon (TxAM) 46.39.
V–1. *Quincy Hall (SC) 45.72.
800: 1. **Marco Arop’ (MsSt) 1:45.90 (7, 8 C);
2. Otis Jones (SC) 1:49.47; 3. Dejon Devroe (MsSt) 1:49.60; 4. *Daniel Nixon (MsSt) 1:49.69; 5. *Malik Epps (Clem) 1:49.75; 6. John Lewis (Clem) 1:49.87.
60H: 1. Roberts 7.52 ((=7, x C; =5, x AmC);
2. **Trey Cunningham (FlSt) 7.58; 3. **LaFranz Campbell’ (Clem) 7.82.
4 x 400: 1. Houston 3:01.51 WR (old WR 3:01.77 Poland ’18) (WL, AL, CL) (4 W; 2 A; 4 C; #4 school) (Lattin 46.33, Igbokwe 44.93, Holt 45.80, Montgomery 44.45);
2. Texas A&M 3:01.56 (5 W; 3 A; 5 C) (Izu 46.50, Deadmon 45.15, Johnson 45.67, Dixon 44.24).
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Darryl Sullivan (Tn) 7-½ (2.15).
PV: 1. Jacob Wooten (TxAM) 18-9¼ (5.72) (=10, x AmC).
LJ: 1. Trumaine Jefferson (Hous) 25-6¼ (7.78); 2. Yann Randrianasolo’ (SC) 25-6¼ (7.78); 3. **Noah Igbinoghene (Aub) 25-3½ (7.71).
TJ: 1. *Tahar Triki’ (TxAM) 55-9¼ (17.00) (CL);
2. *Jordan Scott’ (Va) 55-5½ (16.90); 3. *Jah Strange (Pur) 52-5½ (15.99).
SP: 1. Noah Castle (Ky) 62-6½ (19.06); 2. **Joseph Maxwell (Tn) 62-2½ (18.96); 3. *Charles Lenford (Ky) 61-10½ (18.86).
Wt: 1. Morgan Shigo (PennSt) 71-2 (21.69); 2. *David Lucas (PennSt) 68-1 (20.75); 3. *Logan Kusky (NDm) 68-¼ (20.73).
TIGER PAW WOMEN’S RESULTS
(2/8—60, 400, 60H, PV, LJ, SP)
60: 1. **Ka’Tia Seymour (FlSt) 7.21; 2. Maia McCoy (Tn) 7.24; 3. **Jayla Kirkland (FlSt) 7.25; 4. Kianna Gray (Ky) 7.25.
200: 1. McCoy 23.12; 2. *Danyel White (TxAM) 23.36. II–1. Brenessa Thompson’ (TxAM) 23.28; 2. Gray 23.36. III–1. Diamond Spaulding (TxAM) 23.28; 2. *Brianne Bethel’ (Hous) 23.45. IV–1. **Anavia Battle (OhSt) 23.00; 2. Kirkland 23.29. V–1. ***Abby Steiner (Ky) 23.36.
400: I–1. ***Alexis Holmes (PennSt) 52.580. II–1. *Aliyah Abrams’ (SC) 52.91; 2. ***Tierra Robinson-Jones (TxAM) 53.40. III–1. **Syaira Richardson (TxAM) 53.06; 2. Madeline Price’ (Can) 53.17. V–1. *Wadeline Jonathas (SC) 52.86; 2. *Chloe Abbott (Ky) 53.07.
800: 1. **Kayla Johnson (Mia) 2:08.40.
60H: 1. **Tiara McMinn (Mia) 8.06; 2. *Cortney Jones (FlSt) 8.07; 3. Jeanine Williams’ (GaT) 8.10; 4. Gabriele Cunningham (NCSt) 8.21; 5. ***Masai Russell (Ky) 8.25; 6. *Ashley Miller (FlSt) 8.27; 7. Jasmine Stowers (TRS) 8.27.
4 x 400: 1. Texas A&M 3:29.96 (WL, AL, CL) (Owens 53.24, Madubuike 52.37, Reed 52.79, Richardson 51.56);
2. South Carolina 3:30.67 (Davis, Abrams’ 51.55, Mills, Jonathas 51.66); 3. Kentucky 3:33.63 (Abbott 51.53); 4. Miami 3:33.99.
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Ellen Ekholm’ (Ky) 5-11½ (1.82); 2. Skyler Daniel (Aub) 5-10½ (1.79); 3. ***Kenya Livingston (Clem) 5-10½.
PV: 1. Bridget Guy (Va) 14-4½ (4.38).
LJ: 1. Tristine Johnson (unat) 20-4½ (6.21); 2. ***Alonie Sutton (Tn) 20-4¼ (6.20); 3. *Madeline Holmberg (PennSt) 20-3½ (6.18).
TJ: 1. Thea LaFond’ (Dom) 46-0 (14.02); 2. Latavia Coombs’ (Ky) 42-8¼ (13.01).
SP: 1. Sade Olatoye (OhSt) 56-2 (17.12); 2. Lauren Evans (NCSt) 53-7 (16.33).
Wt: 1. Olatoye 77-1¾ (23.51) (CL);
2. Stamatia Scarvelis’ (Tn) 72-10½ (22.21); 3. **Debbie Ajagbe (Mia) 67-2¾ (20.49). □
