GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, April 18–19 — Chris Robinson surely provided the most unlooked-for highlight of the Tom Jones Memorial. An NCAA 400H champion for Alabama and last year’s OT 4th-placer, he had run a 45.54 PR on the flat at the GST meet in Kingston. Here it wasn’t until the final 150 of his section that he shifted into overdrive, making up the stagger on Matthew Boling. Robinson proceeded to leave the ’23 Worlds relay gold medalist far behind in a stunning finish for a world leader 44.15. Boling finished well-back in 44.92.
It was an earlier section of the one-lapper that was supposed to be the fast one. Noah Lyles ran his first open 400 since his high school days 9 years ago. However, Lyles, in lane 6, simply got left behind as Gator alum Jacory Patterson streaked to a 44.27 in what would be a very short-lived world leader. Justin Robinson was next in 45.22 and two others crossed before Lyles finished his PR 45.87.
Lyles’ time jumped him up to No. 10 on the all-time 100-200-400 combined scoring list.
The other sprints proved notable as well. The fastest collegiate dash went to Auburn soph Kanyinsola Ajayi, whose 9.96 topped LSU frosh Jelani Watkins (10.03) and Tennessee’s T’Mars McCallum (10.04). The 200 went to another from Auburn, Makanakaishe Charamba, whose 19.99 beat McCallum (20.21).
In the pro versions, Courtney Lindsey hit 9.97 to beat two Christians, Miller (10.02 in his pro debut) and Coleman (10.06), and Joseph Fahnbulleh ran 20.07 over Javonte Harding (20.19).
Not since high school has Grant Holloway started his outdoor season with a hurdles loss but Trey Cunningham caught him with a 13.09–13.18 finish in the invitational 110H. Cunningham nailed his start but at halfway was still nearly a stride behind the fast-starting Olympic champion. He drove hard over the final two hurdles to take the win, his first over Holloway in three years.
When it came relay time, not surprisingly Auburn had the fastest collegiate squad, topping LSU 38.39–38.77. In the invitational race, a foursome of Christian Coleman, Pjai Austin, Erriyon Knighton and Lyles passed to a 37.90, beating the 38.18 by Lindsey, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Kendal Williams.
On Friday, Mississippi’s Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, winner of the last four NCAA shot crowns indoors and out, reached 68-1 (20.75), on his last throw to overtake South Carolina’s Christopher Licata (66-4½/20.23) and take the outdoor collegiate lead. On Saturday, TRH took the hammer at 244-7 (74.54).
JONES MEMORIAL MEN’S RESULTS
100: II(1.9)–1. **Kanyinsola Ajayi’ (Aub-Ngr) 9.96 PR; 2. ***Jelani Watkins (LSU) 10.03 PR; 3. *T’Mars McCallum (Tn) 10.04; 4. *Kalen Walker (Ia) 10.06 PR. IV(2.6)–1. Trelee Banks (In) 10.05w. V(1.9)–1. Courtney Lindsey (Nike) 9.97; 2. Christian Miller (Puma) 10.02; 3. Christian Coleman (Nike) 10.06; 4. Brandon Hicklin (Nike) 10.07; 5. Kyree King (Nike) 10.07; 6. Kendal Williams (adidas) 10.08. VI(1.6)–1. Eloy Benitez’ (PR) 10.04 =NR. VII(0.4)–1. Pjai Austin (Nike) 10.07.
200: I(-0.8)–1. Makanakaishe Charamba’ (Aub-Zim) 19.99 (CL);
2. *T’Mars McCallum (Tn) 20.21 PR. II(1.1)–1. ***Brody Buffington (Ga) 20.33 PR; 2. Sam Blaskowski (WiLC) 20.33 PR. III(-1.0)–1. Steven Gardiner’ (Bah) 20.40. IV(1.3)–1. Joseph Fahnbulleh’ (Lbr) 20.07; 2. Javonte’ Harding (unat) 20.19; 3. Demarius Smith (unat) 20.29.
400: I–1. **Will Floyd’ (Ga-Can) 44.93 PR.
III–1. Jacory Patterson (CiqueE) 44.27 PR (WL, AL);
2. Justin Robinson (unat) 45.22;… 5. Noah Lyles (adidas) 45.87. IV–1. Khaleb McRae (unat) 45.13;…6. Erriyon Knighton (adidas) 46.26.
V–1. Chris Robinson (unat) 44.15 PR (WL, AL);
2. Matthew Boling (CirqueE) 44.92.
800: 1. Abdullahi Hassan’ (MsSt-Can) 1:45.39 PR; 2. **Brian Kweyei’ (Clem-Ken) 1:46.92.
110H(0.1): 1. *Kendrick Smallwood (Tx) 13.30; 2. *Jahiem Stern’ (LSU-Jam) 13.43; 3. *Matthew Sophia’ (LSU-Neth) 13.46. Heats: II–1. Smallwood 13.26 PR.
Inv110H: I(-0.4)–1. Trey Cunningham (adidas) 13.09 (WL, AL);
2. Grant Holloway (adidas) 13.18; 3. Dylan Beard (D4) 13.33; 4. Orlando Bennett’ (Jam) 13.39.
400H: I–1. Jevon Williams (Tn) 48.77 PR (CL);
2. *Kody Blackwood (Tx) 48.79 PR; 3. Trevor Bassitt (US) 49.04. II–1. ***Saad Hinti’ (Tn-Mor) 49.25.
4 x 100: I–1. United States 37.90 (AL) (Coleman, Austin, Knighton, Lyles);
2. United States B 38.18 (Lindsey, Bednarek, King, Williams); 3. United States C 38.84 (Hicklin, Lang, Lightner, Smith).
IV–1. Tennessee 38.76; 2. Texas 39.01.
V–1. Auburn 38.39 (CL) (Fahmi’, Ajayi’, Matau’, Charamba’);
2. LSU 38.77; 3. Kentucky 39.10; 4. Florida 39.12.
4 x 400: I–1. United States 3:01.37 (WL).
IV–1. Purdue 3:03.64 (Spencer 44.14); 2. LSU 3:04.31; 3. Florida B 3:04.39.
V–1. Florida 3:01.52 (CL) (Schwartzman, Braun, Prude 45.18, McKiver 45.25);
2. Alabama 3:03.32; 3. Georgia 3:03.68; 4. Texas 3:04.63.
Field Events
HJ: 1. **Riyon Rankin (Ga) 7-1¾ (2.18).
PV: 1. *Cade Gray (Tn) 18-½ (5.50) outPR.
LJ: 1. Jeremiah Davis (Puma) 25-11 (7.90); 2. Cameron Crump (unat) 25-8 (7.82).
TJ: 1. Donald Scott (unat) 54-8¼ (16.67); 2. Kaiwan Culmer’ (Bah) 54-6 (16.61).
SP: 1. *Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Ms) 68-1 (20.75) (out CL); 2. Christopher Licata (SC) 66-4½ (20.23).
DT: 1. *Trevor Gunzell’ (Al-Jam) 209-7 (63.88) PR; 2. *Christopher Young’ (Al-Jam) 201-4 (61.36) PR.
HT: 1. Robinson-O’Hagan 244-7 (74.54); 2. Jake Dalton (Ms) 228-9 (69.72).
JT: 1. Moustafa Alsherif’ (Ga-Egy) 264-2 (80.52); 2. **Leikel Cabrera Gay’ (Fl-Cub) 255-4 (77.84).
