AUSTIN, TEXAS, March 29-April 01 — The college track & field world gathered two pieces of vital intelligence at the 2023 Texas Relays.
First: Julien Alfred and her Texas teammates are not perfect. Now, that doesn’t mean anyone can beat them — it just means the Longhorns won’t necessarily set a Collegiate Record every time they pass a baton. On relays featuring Alfred and Rhasidat Adeleke, the Longhorns went three for four on CRs.
Second: Kentucky hurdler Masai Russell’s indoor season was no fluke.
The Longhorns’ biggest prize was the 4 x 100 standard. In Friday’s prelims, Texas made a statement when Alfred, Ezinne Abba, Adeleke, and Kevona Davis laid down a 42.38 to lead all qualifiers by more than a second. In Saturday’s final, they punctuated it, scorching a 42.00 and deleting LSU’s 42.05 CR from 2018.
There was less warning for Russell’s CR in the 100 hurdles. She easily led the prelims with a 12.61w, though it had a stiff 5.9 breeze behind it.
But in the final, it quickly became apparent something special was happening. Finishing in 12.36 with the maximum allowable wind, she took down the 12.39 set by Clemson’s Brianna Rollins a decade ago.
Did Russell stamp herself as the favorite in June, when she’ll return to Austin for NCAA Outdoors? Not necessarily. Russell set a CR in the 60 hurdles in January, only to see Arkansas’ Ackera Nugent take both the title and the record in Albuquerque. (Adding to the mystery: Nugent ran a 12.95w in the Texas prelims but skipped the final.)
“It was a surprise and it wasn’t,” Russell said about destroying her previous 12.71 PR. “Just from the times I was putting up throughout the indoor season, I knew I was capable of doing the fast times, but once it happens, it seems surreal.”
In addition to the 4×1, the Longhorns lowered the sprint medley and 4 x 200 standards.
In the medley, Alfred, Adeleke, Kennedy Simon, and Valery Tobias passed the stick in 3:36.10, knocking off in-state rival Texas A&M’s 3:38.93 collegiate standard (set last year at this meet).
In the 4 x 200, Alfred, Adeleke, Lanae Thomas, and Davis clocked 1:28.05, surpassing Oregon’s 1:28.78 from 2017.
Alfred and Adeleke’s only “failure” was winning the 4 x 400 in 3:23.27. It wasn’t a record, but did avenge Texas’ NCAA Indoor Champs loss to Arkansas. Adeleke’s 49.47 anchor held off Britton Wilson’s 49.68.
For Alfred, records have become a habit. Indoors, she broke her own 60 record five times. But this weekend was a group effort — she ran no individual events, and that was fine with her.
“[Floreal’s] main focus on me is just to have fun and compete at my very best,” Alfred said. “There’s never any pressure from him. Whatever my coach says to do, I’m going to do it. I have no expectations. I have no limits for myself.”
As for the 4×4 record that eluded Texas: “I’m hoping we’ll get it. But no pressure. We have a long season ahead of us. I’m sure [with] everybody at their very best, we’re definitely going to get it. It’s possible.”
In three of the last four seasons Valarie Allman has opened her discus campaigns with world leaders. The Olympic champion did so again here. After a modest start — two fouls bracketing a 187-9 (57.23) throw — on her fourth Allman let out an exultant scream befitting the 222-9 (67.90) whirl that preceded it.
TEXAS RELAYS WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.2): 1. McKenzie Long (Ms) 11.00 PR (AL, CL);
2. ***Anthaya Charlton’ (Ky-Bah) 11.13 PR; 3. *Rosemary Chukwuma’ (TxT-Ngr) 11.21; 4. **Iyana Gray (TCU) 11.25;
5. *Thelma Davies (LSU) 11.29; 6. ***Victoria Perrow (Ky) 11.29 PR; 7. Kennedy Blackmon (Ok) 11.32; 8. **Lia Love (Ia) 11.43;… dnc—*Kevona Davis’ (Tx-Jam).
Heats: I(3.5)–1. Long 10.80w (a-c WL, AL, CL) (a-c: =5, =5 C; 5, 5 AmC).
Inv100(1.5): 1. Gabby Thomas (NBal) 11.09; 2. Ashanti Moore’ (Jam) 11.23; 3. Lynna Irby (adidas) 11.31; 4. Symone Mason (unat) 11.39; 5. Anavia Battle (adiTBB) 11.40.
200(1.5): 1. Ashanti Moore’ (Jam) 22.79 PR; 2. Jacious Sears (Tn) 22.81 PR; 3. Davies 22.91.
Inv200(1.2): 1. Thomas 22.46 (out WL, AL);
2. Lynna Irby (adidas) 22.71; 3. Battle 22.86; 4. Melissa Jefferson (Nike) 22.97.
800: 1. Valery Tobias (Tx) 2:03.59; 2. *Brooke Jaworski (Tx) 2:05.37.
1500: 1. Madie Boreman (unat) 4:17.85 PR.
St: 1. Eleonora Curtabbi’ (WTxAM-Ita) 10:02.60; 2. *Hannah Stewart (KsSt) 10:19.23 PR.
100H(2.0): 1. Masai Russell (Ky) 12.36 CR (old CR 12.39 Brianna McNeal [Clem] (WL, AL) (=16, x W; 8, x A);
2. *Alia Armstrong (LSU) 12.57; 3. *Leah Phillips (LSU) 12.95; 4. *Darci Khan (How) 12.96 PR; 5. *Shani’a Bellamy (LSU) 13.14 PR; 6. Keira Christie-Galloway’ (GCan-Can) 13.23;… dnc—*Ackera Nugent’ (Ar-Jam).
Heats: III(5.9)–1. Russell 12.61w (a-c WL, AL, CL).
Inv100H(0.9): 1. Tonea Marshall (HurdM) 12.63; 2. Anna Cockrell (HurdM) 12.88; 3. *Antoinette Van Der Merwe’ (Clem-SA) 13.31.
400H: 1. Bellamy 55.96 PR (AmCL);
2. Jessica Wright (How) 55.98 PR; 3. *Lashanna Graham’ (Clem-Jam) 57.33; 4. Daneesha Davidson (Ok) 57.48 PR;
5. *Paige Magee (Ia) 57.91; 6. *Mariel Bruxvoort (Ia) 57.91; 7. *Alanah Yukich’ (UTSA-Aus) 58.02; 8. Ashonti Warner (Ok) 58.73.
Inv400H: 1. Erin Dowd (unat) 57.12; 2. Ashley Tinashe Miller’ (Zim) 58.03; 3. *Brooke Jaworski (Tx) 58.95.
4 x 100: 1. Texas 42.00 CR (old CR 42.05 LSU ’18) (WL, CL) (Alfred’, Abba, Adeleke’, Davis’);
2. Kentucky 42.81 (Perrow, Charlton’, Russell, Davis);
3. LSU 43.30 (AL) (Armstrong, Phillips, Brown, Davies);
4. Ohio State 43.66; 5. Mississippi 43.84; 6. Arkansas 43.96; 7. Purdue 44.38 8. Oklahoma 44.44; 9. Alabama 44.94.
Heats: V–1. Texas 42.38 (WL, CL) (Alfred’, Abba, Adeleke’, Davis’).
Inv 4 x 100: 1. USA Gold 41.75 (WL, AL) (Jefferson, Steiner, Prandini, Hobbs);
2. USA Stars 42.10 (Oliver, Terry, Daniels, Richardson); 3. USA Red 42.12 (Brisco, Brown, Akinosun, Thomas); 4. USA Blue 42.56 (Sturgis, White, Gardner, Henderson); 5. USA White 42.87 (Harrison, Battle, Johnson, Hill); 6. Georgia 43.04.
4 x 200: I–1. Tennessee 1:34.64; 2. Georgia State 1:35.34.
II–1. Howard 1:34.78.
III–1. Texas 1:28.05 CR (old CR 1:28.78 Oregon ’17) (WL) (2 W) (Alfred’, Adeleke’, Thomas, Davis’);
2. Baylor 1:31.77 (#10 school); 3. Kentucky 1:34.53 (AL).
4 x 400: 1. Texas 3:23.27 (out WL, out CL) (9 C) (Thomas, Simon, Alfred’ 51.63, Adeleke’ 49.47);
2. Arkansas 3:24.45 (Peoples, Effiong, Reid’ 51.57, B. Wilson 49.68); 3. Ohio State 3:28.43 (Dayle’ 52.83, Wood 51.51); 4. UCLA 3:30.70; 5. Georgia 3:31.35; 6. LSU 3:31.80; 7. Baylor 3:33.34; 8. Kentucky 3:36.63.
Inv 4 x 400: 1. Hurdle Mechanics 3:24.82 (AL, out WL) (Muhammad, Holmes, Brown, Cockrell);
2. USA Red 3:25.65 (Jefferson, Steiner, Prandini, Rogers);
3. Hurdle Mechanic International 3:30.11; 4. International Stars 3:31.49.
4 x 800: 1. LSU 8:20.69 (WL, CL) (Rangel Batres’ 2:06.72, Hardy 2:11.51, Bourdier’ 2:04.06, Rose 1:58.40);
2. Clemson 8:38.57;
3. Arkansas 8:42.83 (AL);
4. Rice 8:44.52; 5. Oklahoma State 8:47.00.
SpMed: 1. Texas 3:36.10 CR (old CR 3:38.93 Texas A&M ’22) (WL) (4 W) (Alfred’, Adeleke’, Simon, Tobias 2:01.33);
2. Arkansas 3:41.51 (6 C; #4 school)(Denton, Reid’, Effiong, B. Wilson 2:04.50);
3. Georgia 3:48.81; 4. Clemson 3:49.66; 5. Lamar 3:53.49.
DisMed: 1. LSU 10:59.86 (out WL, CL) (Bourdier, White, Rose, Rangel Batres);
2. TCU 11:21.14.
Field Events
HJ: I–1. **Elena Kulichenko’ (Ga-Rus) 6-2¾ (1.90) PR; 2. Rylee Anderson (Ks) 5-11½ (1.82); 3. **Daniella Anglin’ (SD-Jam) 5-11½ PR; 4. *Sanaa Barnes (Aub) 5-11½.
II–1. **Claudina Diaz’ (Mo-Mex) 5-11½ PR.
PV: 1. **Chloe Timberg (Rut) 14-9 (4.50) (=AmCL, out AL, out CL);
2. *Amanda Fassold (Ar) 14-7¼ (4.45);
3. ***Kenna Stimmel (VaT) 14-7¼ =PR (=9, x AJ);
4. **Olivia Lueking (Ok) 14-3¼ (4.35); 5. *Cassidy Mooneyhan (SD) 13-11¼ (4.25); 6. **Marleen Mulla’ (SD-Est) 13-11¼; 7. Aliyah Welter (Louis) 13-11¼.
Inv PV: 1. Bridget Williams (TmEssx) 14-3½ (4.36); 2. Emily Grove (unat) 14-3½; 3. Sophie Gutermuth (unat) 14-3½; 4. Sydney Walter (unat) 14-3½; 5. Rachel Baxter (unat) 14-3½.
LJ: 1. **Ackelia Smith’ (Tx-Jam) 21-6¾w (6.57) (20-11¼/6.38); 2. *Synclair Savage (Louis) 21-5¼ (6.53) PR;
3. ***Anthaya Charlton’ (Ky-Bah) 21-4¾w (6.52) (20-9¼/6.33); 4. Charisma Taylor’ (Tn-Bah) 21-½ (6.41) PR; 5. Tyra Gittens’ (Tri) 20-11¼ (6.38).
TJ: I–1. *Asha Fletcher (Cal) 43-10¾w (13.38); 2. *Taylor Nelloms (WTxAM) 43-7¼w (13.29) (43-5¾/13.25); 3. Ieva Turķe’ (Nb-Lat) 43-4¼ (13.21) PR; 4. Daneesha Davidson (Ok) 42-11¾ (13.10); 5. *Amy Warren (Aub) 42-6¾ (12.97) PR; 6. **Euphenie Andre (Mo) 42-4¼w (12.91); 7. Jada Branch (App) 42-3½ (12.89); 8. *Mirieli Santos’ (Mo-Bra) 42-3¼ (12.88).
II–1. Smith’ 45-5 (13.84); 2. *Mikeisha Welcome’ (Ga-StV) 44-8¾ (13.63);
3. Titiana Marsh (Ga) 44-8 (13.61) (out AL, AmCL);
4. **Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi’ (LaM-Fra) 44-7½ (13.60) PR; 5. Arianna Fisher (Mo) 44-0 (13.41); 6. Jaimie Robinson (OhSt) 43-½ (13.12); 7. *Koi Johnson (Bay) 42-11½ (13.09); 8. *Onaara Obamuwagun’ (TxT-Ngr) 42-9½ (13.04).
SP: I–1. *Colette Uys’ (SAl-SA) 55-2 (16.81) PR; 2. **Kalynn Meyer (Nb) 53-6½ (16.32) PR; 3. Malin Smith (TxT) 52-6¾ (16.02).
II–1. **Rosa Santana’ (UNLV-DR) 58-10 (17.93) PR; 2. *Marilyn Nwora (Tx) 56-1¼ (17.10); 3. Chelsea Igberaese (Al) 55-11¼ (17.05) PR; 4. Payden Montana (Ok) 55-8½ (16.98); 5. Erna Gunnarsdottir’ (Rice-Ice) 55-7¾ (16.96); 6. Cherisse Murray’ (Al-Tri) 54-10¼ (16.72); 7. *KeAyla Dove (NTx) 54-6½ (16.62); 8. Jasmine Mitchell (Ms) 54-2 (16.51); 9. *Maura Huwalt (Aub) 53-9 (16.38); 10. Zaresha Neal (BG) 53-0 (16.15).
DT: I–1. Tedreauna Britt (Ms) 174-0 (53.05); 2. *Kiana Lowery (Tx) 173-9 (52.96) PR; 3. Montana 171-8 (52.32) PR; 4. Natalie Ramirez (UCLA) 171-1 (52.16).
II–1. Valarie Allman (Asics) 222-9 (67.90) (WL, AL) (f, 187-9, f, 222-9, 213-8, f) (f, 57.23, f, 67.90, 65.13, f);
2. **Jade Whitfield (OrSt) 191-6 (58.36) PR; 3. Ashley Anumba’ (Va-Ngr) 188-8 (57.52); 4. **Faith Bender (OhSt) 187-2 (57.06) PR; 5. *Kaia Harris (Mo) 186-9 (56.93) PR; 6. Emily March (IaSt) 185-8 (56.61); 7. Micaela Hazlewood (Vel) 185-4 (56.50); 8. *Kat Moody (Ia) 179-4 (54.67); 9. **Michaelle Valentin (FlInt) 179-2 (54.62); 10. Zaresha Neal (BG) 179-1 (54.58); 11. *Maura Huwalt (Aub) 177-11 (54.24); 12. **Chrystal Herpin (Tx) 172-10 (52.68).
HT: 1. Madi Malone (Aub) 224-7 (68.45); 2. Kaila Butler’ (Can) 222-3 (67.75); 3. *Emma Robbins (KsSt) 213-5 (65.06); 4. **Marie Forbes’ (Clem-Jam) 212-11 (64.91) PR;
5. ***Elísabet Rut Rúnarsdóttir’ (TxSt-Ice) 211-4 (64.43); 6. Judith Essemiah’ (GVal-Neth) 207-6 (63.26); 7. Tara Simpson-Sullivan’ (Rice-GB) 205-0 (62.49);
8. Chelsea Igberaese (Al) 204-8 (62.39); 9. *Chandler Hayden (Tn) 204-7 (62.37); 10. Tanessa Morris’ (Nb-Can) 203-11 (62.15); 11. Mayyi Mahama (UCLA) 202-5 (61.71).
JT: I–1. **Valentina Barrios Bornacelli’ (Mo-Col) 183-9 (56.00); 2. Sophia Rivera’ (Mo-PR) 182-8 (55.68); 3. *Deisiane Teixiera (UNLV) 182-7 (55.65) PR;
4. **Casey Bogues (Day) 176-6 (53.80) PR; 5. Federica Botter’ (UCLA-Ita) 175-7 (53.52); 6. Megan Albamonti (De) 174-1 (53.06); 7. *Maddie Harris (Nb) 170-2 (51.87);
8. Ashton Riner (BYU) 170-2 (51.87); 9. **Skylar Ciccolini (Mo) 166-9 (50.82); 10. *Mirta Kulisic’ (Nb-Cro) 166-4 (50.70).
II–1. **Sydney Juszczyk (TCU) 166-1 (50.62).
Hept: 1. **Jadin O’Brien (NDm) 5942 PR (AL, CL) (13.91, 5-7¼/1.71, 45-2¼/13.77, 24.75, 19-10¾/6.06, 127-0/38.73, 2:15.62);
2. *Kristīne Blaževiča’ (Tx-Lat) 5683; 3. Sterling Lester (Fl) 5658; 4. Kaitlin Smith (unat) 5657; 5. Kristen O’Handley’ (Tul-Can) 5652 PR; 6. **Alaina Brady (NDm) 5650 PR; 7. **Izzy Goudros’ (Harv-Can) 5637 PR; 8. *Alix Still’ (Va-GB) 5491 PR; 9. *Anneke Moersdorf (OrSt) 5409 PR; 10. Dominique Biron (NEn) 5392.
