GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, April 14–15 — It was hard to say who should be named women’s athlete of the meet at the Tom Jones Memorial. Julien Alfred, Britton Wilson and Jasmine Moore all posted head-turning marks, but Wilson’s weekend narrowly earns the nod with no wind in her equation.
On Friday evening, the Arkansas junior was never headed as she reeled off a sparkling 53.23 in the 400H to put away Anna Hall at 54.48 and new 100H CR-setter Masai Russell of Kentucky at 55.39. The mark — just 0.15 slower than Wilson’s 53.08 PR set outside the collegiate season at last year’s USATF Champs — jumped her 3 spots to No. 3 all-time on the collegiate list.
Wilson’s technique was nearly flawless as she cleared the fifth hurdle at 23.4, then alternated to a left lead for hurdles 8 and 10.
Florida alum Hall, with yelled encouragement from Gator coach Mouse Holloway entering the homestretch, equaled her lifetime best from the semis at last year’s NCAA.
Said Wilson, “It was the smoothest first half in a hurdles race I’ve had in a while — honestly ever. It felt really great my first few hurdles and the first 200 probably the best I’ve ever run it. But I think technique-wise I still have some things to work on but that will be helped by more practice and more competition. I think that was pretty much how I’ve always run it but more efficient.
“It makes me confident knowing that I ran somewhat close to what my PR is this early. It makes me excited for what’s to come because it’s still pretty early in the season.”
Wilson had even more in the tank on Saturday. In lane 6 for the 400, she got out fast, but got some pressure from Texas’s Kennedy Simon in lane 5 going into the first turn. Down the backstretch Wilson inched her way onto the shoulder of Longhorn Rhasidat Adeleke in lane 7 and moved even at the 200. With her ever-so-efficient stride and no sign of fatigue, Wilson powered through the line in an eye-opening 49.51 that rates as the fastest outdoor collegiate mark ever. Adeleke held her ground to finish in a PR 49.90.
“It was honestly just keeping my mind clear,” said Wilson, who set her 49.48 absolute CR at the NCAA Indoor. “I did have a lot of thoughts going on in my mind: ‘I’m gonna run an open 4 outdoors, this is wild, not the same as indoors.’ Kind of all these almost negative thoughts and I was just like, ‘No self doubt, just go out there and execute, just run your race, have fun.’”
Comparing the outing to her Indoor triumph, Wilson said, “I feel like outdoor always is a chance to run faster. I feel like it’s easier to run a 400 on an outdoor track than an indoor track so I look forward to hopefully being able to drop my time.”
Wilson appreciated having her events split on separate days but said, “If the double comes back for me, I will obviously feel great doing it again. It’s not really super-intimidating to me anymore.”
The first track event on day 1, the 200, was a doozy. Coming off her recordbreaking indoor season, Julien Alfred didn’t miss a beat. She blasted out in lane 6 and made up the stagger on long-legged teammate Adeleke by mid curve. Alfred took a commanding lead into the stretch to post a stunning 21.91 (wind 1.8) and beat back McKenzie Long of Ole Miss (22.31 PR) with Adeleke 3rd (22.34 PR).
Alfred essayed another lightning strike in Saturday’s 100 final. She sprinted behind fast-starting Rosemary Chukwuma of Texas Tech and Florida’s Talitha Diggs before hitting a higher gear to record a scorching 10.72w with a 2.4 aiding wind. Behind her Chukwuma held on for 2nd in 10.85w.
Alfred’s time was an all-conditions CR, eclipsing the 10.74w by North Carolina A&T’s Cambrea Sturgis in ’21. It also tied Alfred for =No. 9 on the world all-conditions ATL.
Moore got busy in a heated long jump battle before either Alfred or Wilson hit the track. Helped by a 3.0 wind, Quanesha Burks jumped 22-2¼w (6.76) in the first round. That mark held up despite a big sixth round in which Anna Hall leapt 22-¾w (6.72) and Florida’s Claire Bryant soared a PR 22-1¾ (6.75).
WC 4th-placer Burks uncorked a 22-9¾w (6.95) to extend her lead. That left Florida’s Moore with one last chance to take it. And she did as she popped a 22-10¾w (6.98) for the win. That was over a foot better than any of Moore’s previous jumps on the day as Moore once again proved she can produce a clutch jump when it matters most.
Heptathlete Hall had another busy meet posting in addition to her 400H and LJ performances a 13.19w in the 100H heats and 44-4¼ (13.52) in the shot.
Melissa Jefferson held off all-world sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah in the Invitational 200 with a 23.02–23.23 victory. It was ETH’s slowest opener in the past 3 years.
JONES MEMORIAL WOMEN’S RESULTS
Invitational Division
100: I(2.9)–1. Celera Barnes (adidas) 11.05w; 2. Murielle Ahouré-Demps’ (CI) 11.12w; 3. Gina Luckenkemper’ (Ger) 11.13w.
II(1.6)–1. Kiara Grant’ (Jam) 10.99 PR; 2. Maia McCoy (unat) 11.08 PR; 3. Tobi Amusan’ (Ngr) 11.10 PR.
200(1.8): 1. Melissa Jefferson (Nike) 23.02; 2. Elaine Thompson-Herah’ (Jam) 23.23.
400: 1. Stacey-Ann Williams’ (Jam) 50.12 PR; 2. Aliyah Abrams’ (Guy) 50.77 PR; 3. Brittany Brown (adidas) 51.15 PR; 4. Junelle Bromfield’ (Jam) 51.85; 5. Leah Anderson’ (Jam) 52.13.
100H(1.4): 1. Nia Ali (Nike) 12.53; 2. Amusan’ 12.59; 3. Devynne Charlton’ (Bah) 12.64; 4. Danielle Williams’ (Jam) 12.74; 5. Kerrica Hill’ (Jam) 12.86; 6. Crystal Morrison’ (Jam) 12.87; 7. Gabbi Cunningham (TumTC) 13.03; 8. Amber Hughes (unat) 13.04; 9. Jade Barber (unat) 13.15.
Heats: I(1.1)–1. Amusan’ 12.74; 2. Charlton’ 12.87. II(2.8)–1. Ali 12.55w; 2. Williams’ 12.64w;
3. Hill’ 12.68w (a-c: 2, 2 WJ);
4. Hughes 12.89w; 5. Cunningham 13.02w; 6. Anna Hall (adidas) 13.19w.
HJ: 1. **Taylor Beard (Cinc) 6-½ (1.84) PR.
LJ: 1. *Jasmine Moore (Fl) 22-10¾w (6.98) (a-c out WL, AL, CL) (a-c: x, 5 C ) (21-10¼w [a-c out CL], 21-2, 21-3½w, 21-9½w, 21-6¾, 22-10¾w) (6.66w, 6.45, 6.49w, 6.64w, 6.57, 6.98w);
2. Quanesha Burks (unat) 22-9¾w (6.95);
3. *Claire Bryant (Fl) 22-1¾ (6.75) PR (out WL, AL, CL);
4. Hall 22-¾w (6.72) (21-8¼/6.61); 5. *Synclair Savage (Louis) 21-1¼w (6.43); 6. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo’ (UCF-Can) 20-10w (6.35); 7. *Morgan Smalls (LSU) 20-8 (6.30).
SP: 1. Danniel Thomas-Dodd’ (Jam) 64-½ (19.52); 2. ***Alida van Daalen’ (Fl-Neth) 59-6¼ (18.14) PR; 3. Chelsea Igberaese (Al) 58-10¼ (17.94) PR; 4. *Marilyn Nwora (Tx) 54-10¼ (16.72); 5. Cherisse Murray’ (Al-Tri) 54-8¾ (16.68); 6. *Maura Huwalt (Aub) 53-11 (16.43).
DT: 1. **Caisa-Marie Lindfors’ (FlSt-Swe) 196-2 (59.81) PR; 2. van Daalen’ 186-5 (56.82); 3. **Marie Forbes’ (Clem-Jam) 183-6 (55.95); 4. **Faith Bender (OhSt) 182-3 (55.57); 5. *Maura Huwalt (Aub) 181-8 (55.39); 6. Taylor Gorum (Al) 181-0 (55.18) PR; 7. Igberaese 171-1 (52.14); 8. *Adrienne Adams’ (UCF-Jam) 170-7 (51.99).
HT: 1. Madi Malone (Aub) 223-7 (68.15); 2. *Samantha Kunza (Al) 214-4 (65.33) PR; 3. Taylor Gorum (Al) 211-6 (64.46); 4. Forbes’ 210-5 (64.14); 5. Igberaese 209-1 (63.73); 6. *Chandler Hayden (Tn) 205-10 (62.75).
University Division
(4/14—200, 1500, 400H, LJ, SP, HT, JT)
100: I(2.4)–1. *Julien Alfred’ (Tx-StL) 10.72w (a-c WL, CL) ) (a-c: =9, x W; 1, 1 C);
2. *Rosemary Chukwuma’ (TxT-Ngr) 10.85w; 3. McKenzie Long (Ms) 10.92w; 4. *Kevona Davis’ (Tx-Jam) 10.93w; 5. *Talitha Diggs (Fl) 10.96w; 6. Ezinne Abba (Tx) 10.99w; 7. Jacious Sears (Tn) 11.15w; 8. Kynnedy Flannel (Fl) 11.25w.
II(0.8)–1. *Ackera Nugent’ (Ar-Jam) 11.12; 2. **Leah Bertrand’ (OhSt-Tri) 11.20 PR; 3. *Thelma Davies (LSU) 11.28.
III(0.8)–1. **Chante Clinkscale (Aub) 11.26 PR.
IV(2.2)–1. Beyonce Defreitas’ (UCF-BVI) 11.23w.
200: I(1.8)–1. Alfred’ 21.91 NR (WL, CL) (2, 2 C); 2. Long 22.31 PR (AmCL);
3. *Rhasidat Adeleke’ (Tx-Ire) 22.34 NR; 4. Davis’ 22.47; 5. *Mariah Ayers (Bay) 22.90; 6. Kynnedy Flannel (Fl) 23.11.
II(3.6)–1. Lanae Thomas (Tx) 22.30w; 2. Sears 22.56w; 3. Abba 22.66w; 4. Karimah Davis (Ky) 22.68w; 5. Dayle’ 23.03w.
III(1.1)–1. Davies 22.64 PR; 2. Defrand 22.77 PR; 3. **Rosey Effiong (Ar) 22.91 PR; 4. Kennedy Simon (Tx) 23.03 PR; 5. Kamaya Debose-Epps (MsSt) 23.10.
IV(0.7)–1. **Jayla Jamison (SC) 22.79; 2. Sedrickia Wynn (TxSt) 23.09 PR; 3. **Imaobong Nse Uko’ (Bay-Ngr) 23.10 PR; 4. **Joanne Reid’ (Ar-Jam) 23.24 PR..
VI(0.6)–1. ***Ramiah Elliott (Fl) 23.29 PR.
VIII(-1.1)–1. **Na’Taja Ballard (Al) 23.22 PR.
XI(1.2)–1. Nugent’ 23.10 PR.
400: I–1. *Britton Wilson (Ar) 49.51 PR (CL; out WL, AL) (2, 2 C—1, 1 out); 2. Adeleke’ NR 49.90 (6, 9 C);
3. Effiong 50.93 PR; 4. Kennedy Simon (Tx) 51.31; 5. Uko’ 52.10; 6. *Amber Anning’ (Ar-GB) 52.35.
II–1. Thomas 51.22 PR; 2. *Bryannia Murphy (OhSt) 51.54 PR; 3. Paris Peoples (Ar) 51.89; 4. **Joanne Reid’ (Ar-Jam) 51.95 PR; 5. **Nickisha Pryce’ (Ar-Jam) 52.26 PR.
III–1. *Latasha Smith (UCF) 51.47 PR; 2. Alyssa Marsh’ (OhSt-Can) 51.77 PR; 3. *Jaydan Wood (OhSt) 52.22; 4. Jessica Wright (How) 52.34 PR.
IV–1. *Kiah Williams (UCF) 51.59 PR; 2. **Aaliyah Pyatt (Ar) 51.75; 3 PR. *Mariah Ayers (Bay) 52.25 PR.
V–1. *Ashantae Harvey (Aub) 52.67 PR.
800: I–1. Emily Richards (unat) 2:00.82; 2. Imogen Barrett’ (Fl-Aus) 2:00.96 PR; 3. Kassidy Johnson (Rut) 2:02.35 PR; 4. Gabrielle Wilkinson (Fl) 2:03.87; 5. *Brooke Jaworski (Tx) 2:04.41 PR.
II–1. ***Sylvia Chelangat’ (SC-Ken) 2:02.58 PR.
1500: 1. *Rylee Penn (Cinc) 4:13.76; 2. Emily Richards (unat) 4:14.42; 3. *Alyson Churchill (FlSt) 4:15.38 PR; 4. **Carlee Hansen (NC) 4:16.19.
100H(2.3): 1. *Rayniah Jones (UCF) 12.80w; 2. Charisma Taylor’ (Tn-Bah) 12.84w; 3. **Alexis Glasco (CCar) 12.91w; 4. Demisha Roswell’ (TxT-Jam) 13.00w; 5. *Myreanna Bebe (Ia) 13.03w; 6. Paula Salmon (NCAT) 13.08w; 7. Sedrickia Wynn (TxSt) 13.21w;… dnf—*Jayla Hollis (Fl);… dnc—*Alia Armstrong (LSU).
Heats: III(-1.0)–1. Jones 13.05; 2. Taylor’ 13.05 PR; 3. *Darci Khan (How) 13.18. IV(2.4)–1. Armstrong 12.90w; 2. Bebe 12.96w; 3. Glasco 13.02w; 4. Sedrickia Wynn (TxSt) 13.10w. V(0.1)–1. Salmon 13.15. VI(1.6)–1. Roswell’ 13.11.
400H: I–1. Wilson 53.23 (WL, AL, CL) (3, 3 C);
2. Hall 54.48 =PR; 3. Masai Russell (Ky) 55.39; 4. Jessica Wright (How) 55.81 PR; 5. *Vanessa Watson (Fl) 56.33; 6. Kaila Barber (unat) 56.55; 7. *Gontse Morake’ (Bay-SA) 57.46.
II–1. *Lashanna Graham’ (Clem-Jam) 56.54 PR; 2. *Mariel Bruxvoort (Ia) 56.71 PR; 3. *Paige Magee (Ia) 56.79 PR; 4. *Sylvia Schulz’ (TxT-Ger) 57.04 PR.
III–1. Phillips 56.56 PR; 2. Kyla Robinson-Hubbard (Tn) 56.81 PR; 3. Katie Martin (Louis) 57.26 PR; 4. *Ken’naria Gadson (Clem) 57.36; 5. Madison Langley-Walker (Ar) 57.39 PR; 6. Jaworski 57.91.
IV–1. ***Abasiono Akpan’ (Aub-Ngr) 56.93.
4 x 100: 1. Kentucky 43.12 (Perrow, Charlton, Russell, Davis); 2. Ohio State 43.27; 3. LSU 43.72; 4. UCF 43.95; 5. Arkansas 44.15.
II–1. China’ 43.63; 2. The Winners Circle 44.05; 3. Alabama 44.51.
III–1. Coastal Carolina 44.10; 2. Texas State 44.72; 3. Howard 44.80; 4. Cincinnati 44.94.
4 x 400: 1. Ohio State 3:26.57 (Wood, Marsh, Dayle’, Murphy); 2. Arkansas 3:26.60; 3. Florida 3:29.27); 4. Howard 3:32.16; 5. South Carolina 3:32.61.
II–1. UCF 3:31.42; 2. Clemson 3:32.51; 3. Texas Tech 3:34.80; 4. Purdue 3:35.56; 5. Oklahoma State 3:36.29; 6. North Carolina A&T 3:36.29.
III–1. Tennessee 3:29.57; 2. Auburn 3:32.00.
HJ: 1. ***Cheyla Scott (Tn) 6-0 (1.83).
TJ: 1. Thea Lafond (Dmn) 46-4¼ (14.13) (out WL); 2. *Jasmine Moore (Fl) 45-7¾ (13.91) (out AL, CL);
3. Taylor’ 44-6¾ (13.58); 4. Jaimie Robinson (OhSt) 43-½ (13.12); 5. *Alissa Braxton (Fl) 42-5½w (12.94).
DT: 1. *Kiana Lowery (Tx) 170-9 (52.06).
HT: 1. **Guðrún Hallgrimsdóttir’ (VaC-Ice) 209-10 (63.96) PR.
JT: 1. Madison Wiltrout (NC) 179-7 (54.74); 2. Leonie Troeger’ (Cinc-Ger) 175-3 (53.43); 3. Hailey Poole (Al) 159-4 (48.58); 4. Sarah Blake (unat) 158-2 (48.22); 5. **Stella Weinberg’ (FlSt-Nor) 157-9 (48.09). ◻︎