AUSTIN, TEXAS, March 26-29 — The Texas Relays can always be counted on to provide two things: a few records, especially in non-championship baton events, and solid season openers for a number of pros. This year was no different.
The record came in the 4 x 800 as Arkansas’ 8:16.12 shaved 1.16 off the Collegiate Record set 11 months prior by Washington. Arkansas fielded a quartet of Analisse Batista (2:04.06), Ainsley Erzen (2:04.33), Anna Podojil (2:05.18), and Gambian Olympian Sanu Jallow-Lockhart (2:01.65).
Arkansas also sent an intimidating message about its depth in the 4 x 400. First its B squad blasted a 3:31.95, a time most schools would envy. What, then, could the A squad deliver in the headlining race? No less than 3:25.03, well ahead of UCLA’s 3:29.41. Notably, they did it without NCAA indoor champ Isabella Whittaker, who has no remaining outdoor eligibility. Instead, this new quartet comprised Jallow-Lockhart (52.5), Shawnti Jackson (51.2), Rachel Glenn (50.58), and Kaylyn Brown (50.73). Hurdler/high jumper Glenn also kicked off her hurdling season with a solid 54.86.
Near-records, or at least record attempts, came in the sprint medley and pole vault.
In the relay, Clemson (3:37.77) and Arkansas (3:38.15) clocked the Nos. 2 and 3 performances on the collegiate all-time list, behind only Texas’ 3:36.10 from 2023 and just ahead of Texas A&M’s 3:38.93 of 2022.
In the vault, Brynn King, competing for Division II Roberts Wesleyan, soared over 15-7 (4.75) on her second try. That height would have been equivalent to the Division I absolute record if not for this year’s indoor exploits of Washington’s Moll sisters. She then took three cracks at 16-1¾ (4.92), a centimeter higher than Amanda Moll’s CR, but none were particularly close.
Pros kicking off their season included Austin-based Valarie Allman, Rhasidat Adeleke, Tia Jones, Gabby Thomas, and Jenna Prandini as well as Masai Russell.
Double Olympic champion Allman made easy work of the discus with a world-leading 218-11 (66.72). All her throws were better than 212 feet, including a second-round toss of 217-2 (66.21).
“Openers are a bit exposing,” Allman said. “You put in all this work in the offseason and then finally you have that first series to see where you’re at. I think I maybe left some things on the table today. I’m trying to hold myself to a high standard. Zeb [Sion, her coach] is always making some technical changes for us and we’re working on a couple of new things and I need that to keep clicking. I’ve changed a bit in the ring and it’s figuring out how to carry that new stuff forward. I view myself as still kind of a novice. There’s always things to improve. That’s kind of become my superpower.”
Allman said she’s next heading to the celebrated throws meet in Ramona, Oklahoma.
Irish Olympian Adeleke looked in shape with a 50.78 anchor on Team International’s winning 3:25.20 4 x 400. Her homestretch run overtook Empire Athletics (3:26.39) and a Team USA Red (3:26.59) that included Thomas and Prandini.
“It was good for me to get my legs going again,” said Adeleke, 4th in Paris last year and a key member of Texas’ national champion team in 2023. “I was seeing how much I could maintain my form while in that lactic fatigue. We’ve changed training up a bit, I didn’t do indoor this year, so it’s exciting to see how this year is different.”
Jones won the 100H in a windy 12.57 while Russell ran the flat 100 in 11.16 (also wind-aided) behind Anavia Battle’s 11.01.
TEXAS RELAYS WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(3.9): 1. ***Indya Mayberry (TCU) 10.91w; 2. Leah Bertrand’ (OhSt-Tri) 10.94w; 3. **Victoria Cameron (Tarl) 11.09w; 4. *Aleksandra Stoilova’ (Clem-Aus) 11.11w; 5. ***Aniyah Kitt (Clem) 11.17w; 6. Iyana Gray (TCU) 11.19w.
Heats: II(3.9)–1. Anavia Battle (adidas) 11.01w; 2. Masai Russell (Nike) 11.16w.
200: III(1.6)–1. **Carleta Bernard’ (Tx-Jam) 23.07.
IV(3.2)–1. Jenna Prandini (Puma) 22.16w; 2. Cecilia Tamayo-Garza’ (Mex) 22.93w.
800: 1. ***Abigail Abugire’ (WTxAM-Gha) 2:04.89.
100H(2.6): 1. **Akala Garrett (Tx) 12.75w; 2. *Marcia Sey’ (How-GB) 12.76w; 3. Marissa Simpson’ (UTEP-Jam) 12.91w; 4. *Naomi Krebs’ (TxT-Ger) 13.00w; 5. Alexis Glasco (Ky) 13.04w.
Inv 100H(2.6): 1. Tia Jones (adidas) 12.57w; 2. Rayniah Jones (TBBTC) 13.06.
400H: 1. Rachel Glenn (Ar) 54.86; 2. **Amelliah Birdow (TCU) 56.17; 3. **Saira Prince (Ar) 57.07.
Inv 400H: 1. Garrett 55.49; 2. Jessica Wright (TBBTC) 56.81; 3. Bianca Stubler (TBBTC) 56.82.
Relay Events
4 x 100: 1. TCU 42.87 (Mayberry, Gray, Tucker, Harlin); 2. Clemson 43.14; 3. Texas 43.43; 4. Texas Tech 44.07; 5. Howard 44.14.
Inv 4 x 100: 1. Team USA Red 41.74 (Davis, Thomas, Prandini, Battle); 2. Team USA Blue 43.26.
4 x 200: 1. Empire Athletics 1:31.32; 2. Empire Athletics 1:33.11; 3. Howard 1:33.40.
4 x 400: I–1. Arkansas B 3:31.95; 2. Howard 3:33.89.
II–1. Arkansas 3:25.03 (Jackson, Jallow’, Glenn 50.58, Brown 50.73); 2. UCLA 3:29.41 (Johnson 51.03); 3. TCU 3:30.87; 4. Northwestern Louisiana 3:32.45; 5. Clemson 3:33.13.
4 x 400: 1. Team International 3:25.20 (Adeleke’, Asher-Smith’, Alfred’, Smith’ 50.78); 2. Empire Athletics (Davis [3] 49.52) 3:26.39; 3. Team USA Red 3:26.59; 4. Athletics TX 3:31.24; 5. Team USA Blue 3:37.04.
4 x 800: 1. Arkansas 8:16.12 CR (old CR 8:17.28 Washington ’24) (Batista 2:04.96, Erzen 2:04.33, Podojil 2:05.18, Jallow’ 2:01.65);
2. Clemson 8:20.42; 3. Texas 8:47.13; 4. New Mexico JC 8:50.12.
SpMed: 1. Clemson 3:37.77 (10 W, 2 C) (Stoilova’, Kitt, Williams’, Chepngetich’ 1:59.22);
2. Arkansas 3:38.15 (3 C) (A. Jackson, S. Jackson, Brown, Jallow’ 2:01.28);
3. Kentucky 3:44.72; 4. BYU 3:51.73; 5. TCU 3:56.57.
DisMed: 1. Clemson 11:07.02; 2. TCU 11:27.49.
Field Events
HJ: 1. ***Maria Arboleda’ (Ia-Col) 6-0 (1.83).
PV: 1. Brynn King (RobW) 15-7 (4.75) (=9, x A);
2. Olivia Lueking (Ok) 15-0 (4.57); 3. *Marleen Mulla’ (SD-Est) 14-8 (4.47); 4. **Molly Haywood (Bay) 14-8; 5. Lyndsey Reed (VaT) 14-4 (4.37); 6. tie, **Tatum Moku (WaSt) & Tenly Kuhn (Bay) 14-4; 8. ***Anna Willis (SD) 14-4; 9. Abby Knouff (Cinc) 14-4.
Inv PV: 1. Nastassja Campbell (unat) 15-0 (4.57); 2. Natalie Lark (unat) 14-8 (4.47); 3. Kristen Leland (unat) 14-4 (4.37).
LJ: 1. Jasmine Akins (unat) 21-3½ (6.49); 2. ***Prestina Ochonogor’ (Tarl-Ngr) 21-3¼ (6.48); 3. Ida Breigan’ (UTSA-Nor) 20-10¾ (6.37); 4. **Aaliyah Foster’ (Tx-Jam) 20-6¼ (6.25).
TJ: 1. *Agur Dwol (Ok) 45-11¾w (14.01); 2. *Shantae Foreman’ (Clem-Jam) 45-3¾w (13.81) (44-8/13.61); 3. Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi’ (Ok-Fra) 44-1¼ (13.44).
SP: 1. **Nina Ndubuisi’ (Tx-Ger) 59-2 (18.03); 2. ***Amori Pierson (TxT) 58-6½ (17.84); 3. Chrystal Herpin (Tx) 57-5¾ (17.52).
DT: 1. Valarie Allman (AsicsNYAC) 218-11 (66.72) (212-2, 217-2, f, 213-2, 211-7, 218-11) (64.66, 66.21, f, 64.98, 64.51, 66.72); 2. Erika Beistle (GVal) 198-4 (60.46); 3. Amanda Ngandu-Ntumba’ (Cinc-Fra) 197-2 (60.10); 4. Shelby Frank (TxT) 193-5 (58.97); 5. Zoe Burleson (TxT) 185-7 (56.57).
HT: 1. Emma Robbins (OkSt) 226-8 (69.09); 2. Shelby Frank (TxT) 209-0 (63.70); 3. Lydia Knapp (SD) 208-5 (63.52); 4. Kassidy Gallagher (Ok) 207-10 (63.36).
JT: 1. *Elizabeth Korczak’ (Ia-GB) 189-3 (57.69); 2. Jana van Schalkwyk’ (UCLA-SA) 185-3 (56.47); 3. **Irene Jepkemboi’ (TCU-Ken) 170-3 (51.90); 4. Maria Bienvenu (TCU) 166-0 (50.60).
Hept: 1. ***Katelyn Adel’ (Al-Swi) 5587; 2. **Juliette Laracuente-Huebner (Cinc) 5584; 3. Valerie Olson (OkB) 5428.
