AUSTIN, TEXAS, March 25–27 — “I literally felt like I was flying. I’ve never felt this feeling before.”
No, Tara Davis wasn’t literally flying at the Texas Relays, but she was closer to doing so than any previous college athlete. She instantly became a club of one — her 23-5¼ (7.14) makes the lone member of the collegiate 23-Foot/7-Meter Club. Membership even excludes legend of legends Jackie Joyner-Kersee (UCLA) — JJK’s now-former CR was a centimeter short of 7m and ¾” shy of 23ft.
The mark also puts the Texas soph No. 5 on the all-time U.S. performers list, and has to put her sights beyond Eugene and all the way across the Pacific to Tokyo.
She’s on a roll — she came to Austin fresh off an indoor CR 22-9 (6.93) at the NCAA Indoor just two weeks ago in Fayetteville. But she told the Longhorn Network even that performance didn’t compare to this.
“It was the speed, it was the takeoff, the foot placement, everything I did today was way better than Nationals,” Davis said. “I executed everything to the perfect T.”
Soaring through the sunny Texas air, “I was like, ‘Wow, I’m still going … I’m still going … holy crap … holy crap!’
“When I hopped out of the pit, it was like, ‘Welcome to the 23-foot club, baby!’”
She almost didn’t get there — fouls in the first two rounds gave the third some drama, but she topped her indoor mark with a 22-10 ½ (6.97), setting the stage for her winning fourth-rounder. Behind her, Texas Tech’s Ruth Usoro put together what on another day might have been an eye-grabbing series — 3 jumps over 22 and a fourth that fell only a quarter-inch short.
The way Davis has come roaring out of the gate at Texas is all the more impressive considering she has missed even more collegiate competition than most — her last NCAA season was with Georgia in ’18. She was out in ’19 due to transfer rules (although she had some meets unattached), and like everyone else, missed the ’20 outdoor season due to the pandemic.
There were no other major records set here, but there were a lot of strong opening statements for the outdoor campaign.
LSU’s Terrance Laird ripped a half-lap world leader in 19.81. Like every race but one on Saturday, it was wind-legal, and crowned a mostly terrific weekend overall for the Tigers.
Laird, a junior, said that coach Dennis Shaver’s game plan wasn’t complex. “Just relax and sprint,” he said. The mark made him the No. 3 all-time collegian, with the No. 4 performance.
Teammate Damion Thomas also claimed a spot on the college list, his 13.22 in the 110H tying no less than Greg Foster for 10th. Fellow Tiger Eric Edwards got the better start, but Thomas’ much longer legs helped him quickly erase the deficit.
“Eric is always a great starter, so I know he’ll usually get out in front of me and I know I just gotta ride him,” Thomas said.
It was also a day in which LSU’s women took the 4×1 (42.87), went 1-2-4 in the 100H (Tonea Marshall’s world-leading 12.75 improved upon her 12.87 from the prelims) and 1-2-4-6 in the 400H. The Bengals’ only stain was a dropped final baton exchange in the 4×4, which erased a possible challenge to Arkansas’s 3:26.63.
The Tiger men might have impressed in the 4×4, but North Carolina A&T was here to prove its NCAA Indoor title was no fluke — their 3:00.23 turned back a determined 3:01.00 by LSU and 3:01.28 by Texas. A&T got a sharp 44.34 anchor from Trevor Stewart, but the day’s biggest burner was LSU’s Noah Williams, with a 43.76 carry.
Other hints of an interesting NCAA meet in less than three months: Texas’ Steffin McCarter lodged a 26-9 ¾ (8.17) in the long jump and Oklahoma State’s Isai Rodriguez led wire-to-wire in his debut track 10K, his 28:08.70 coming only 10 days after his 8th in the XC Championships and missing Michael Musyoki’s meet record by less than 4 seconds.
On the pro side, notable statements came from Ronnie Baker (9.94 WL in the 100), AR holder Valarie Allman in the discus (218-0/66.46) and world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada in the javelin (270-8/82.51), holding off a challenge from Michael Shuey (265-9/81.01 AL). In the women’s spear, Maggie Malone got her first PR in 5 years, reaching 204-8 (62.38) to improve her hold on the No. 5 position on the all-time U.S. list.
TEXAS RELAYS INVITATIONAL MEN’S RESULTS
100(1.4): 1. Ronnie Baker (Nik) 9.94 (WL, AL);
2. Bryce Robinson (unat) 10.10.
200: I(1.4)–1. E.J Floreal (unat) 20.29; 2. Kahmari Montgomery (Nik) 20.65.
II(1.3)–1. Brandon Carnes (adi) 20.22; 2. Aldrich Bailey (unat) 20.35; 3. Bryce Robinson (unat) 20.64.
400: 1. Bryce Deadmon (TxAM) 44.62 PR (WL, AL, CL);
2. Wil London (unat) 45.62; 3. *Howard Fields (Bay) 45.79.
800: 1. Ayman Zahafi’ (Mor) 1:48.66.
Mile: 1. Jake Johnson (B2R) 4:07.33 PR.
110H(2.3): 1. Bashiru Abdullahi’ (UTSA-Ngr) 13.84w.
400H: 1. Amere Lattin (unat) 49.99; 2. Quivell Jordan (Hous) 50.50.
4 x 100: 1. Mexico 40.01.
4 x 400: 1. UTEP 3:05.84; 2. Texas A&M B 3:07.41; 3. Baylor B 3:07.61.
PV: 1. Scott Houston (unat) 18-4½ (5.60); 2. Reese Watson (unat) 18-½ (5.50); 3. Luke Winder (unat) 18-½.
TEXAS RELAYS OPEN MEN’S RESULTS
(3/25—1500, 5000, 10K, HT, JT; 3/26—100h, PV, LJ, DT)
100(1.3): 1. Jackson Webb (Ok) 10.22 PR; 2. Bryan Henderson (SHous) 10.29;… dnc—***Benjamin Azamati’ (WTxAM-Gha).
Heats: VIII(1.5)–1. Azamati’ 9.97 NR (WL).
200(0.8): 1. *Terrance Laird (LSU) 19.81 PR (3, 4 C; 2, 2 AmC) (WL, AL, CL);
2. ***Devon Achane (TxAM) 20.31 PR; 3. ***Shaun Maswanganyi’ (Hous-SA) 20.31 PR; 4. **Chevannie Hanson’ (UTEP-Jam) 20.67 PR; 5. Jackson 20.80 PR.
800: 1. ***Adam Swanson (EnIl) 1:47.66 PR; 2. **Butare Rugenerwa (WTxAM) 1:48.33 PR.
1500: 1. ***Cruz Gomez (Tx) 3:43.78 PR.
St: 1. ***Nicodemus Rotich (AMC) 8:50.48 PR; 2. Justin Domangue (UTA) 8:53.73 PR.
5000: 1. ***Yusuf Bizimana’ (Tx-GB) 14:12.70 PR.
10,000: 1. **Isai Rodriguez (OkSt) 28:08.70 PR (CL);
2. ***Alex Maier (OkSt) 28:48.88 PR.
110H(1.3): 1. *Damion Thomas’ (LSU-Jam) 13.22 PR (WL, CL) (=10, x C);
2. ***Brithton Senior’ (SD-Jam) 13.54 PR; 3. **Eric Edwards (LSU) 13.56; 4. *Rasheem Brown’ (NCAT-Cay) 13.68 PR; 5. ***Connor Schulman (TxAM) 13.81.
400H: 1. **James Smith (TxAM) 49.99; 2. *Moitalel Mpoke’ (TxAM-SA) 50.01 PR; 3. Shakeem Smith’ (UTEP-Bah) 50.45 PR.
4 x 100: 1. Houston 38.49 (Alexander, Collins, Sumler, Maswanganyi’); 2. LSU 38.70 (Hislop’, Williams, Peebles, Laird); 3. Texas A&M 38.79 (Comick, Yeboah’, Achane, Broome); 4. North Carolina A&T 38.85 (Wright, Ross, Stokes, Harding); 5. TCU 39.16; 6. Northwestern Louisiana 39.92.
4 x 400: 1. North Carolina A&T 3:00.23 (WL, AL, CL) (Stokes, Ross, Young 45.73, Stewart 44.34);
2. LSU 3:01.00 (Camel, Burrell, Terry 45.84, Williams 43.76); 3. Texas 3:01.28 (Maas, Harris, Jones’ 44.19, Wright 45.13); 4. Baylor 3:02.19 (Barr, Croson, Bedell 44.98, DuPree 45.15); 5. TCU 3:03.59 (Seete, Andrews, Gregory 45.56, Mokaleng’ 45.93); 6. Texas Tech 3:07.18; 7. Kansas 3:08.23;… dnf—Houston, Texas A&M.
Field Events
HJ: 1. ***Ushan Perera’ (AMC-SrL) 7-5¾ (2.28) NR; 2. Zack Anderson (SD) 7-2½ (2.20); 3. **Vernon Turner (Ok) 7-2½.
PV: 1. **KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-¼ (5.80) (out AL, CL; =out WL) (17-8½, 18-4½, 18-8¼, 19-¼ [2], 19-3 [xxx]) (5.40, 5.60, 5.70, 5.80 [2], 5.87 [xxx]);
2. tie, ***Zach McWhorter (BYU) & Hussain Al Hizam’ (Ks-Sau) 18-8¼ (5.70) (Al-Hizam NR); 4. **Zach Bradford (Ks) 18-8¼ out PR; 5. ***Eerik Haamer’ (SD-Est) 18-½ (5.50) (out PR); 6. *Kyle Rogers (Ks) 18-½ =PR; 7. tie, *Clayton Fritsch (SHous) & Ethan Bray (SD) 18-½; 9. ***Alexander Slinkman (Rice) 17-8½ (5.40) PR; 10. **Caleb Witsken (BYU) 17-8½ out PR; 11. ***Kyle Rademeyer’ (SAl-SA) 17-8½; 12. Sean Clarke (TxAM) 17-8½.
LJ: 1. Steffin McCarter (Tx) 26-9¾ (8.17) (26-¾, 26-9¾, 26-1w, 26-6½w, p, 26-7¼) (7.94, 8.17, 7.95w, 8.09w, p, 8.11); 2. *Rayvon Allen (Ok) 26-4½w (8.04) (25-7¼/7.80); 3. Justin Hall (TxT) 25-10¼ (7.88); 4. Rodney Ruffin (SELa) 25-8¼ (7.83); 5. *Jalen Seals (TxT) 25-6¾ (7.79) PR; 6. Rayvon Grey (LSU) 25-5½ (7.76); 7. O’Brien Wasome’ (Tx-Jam) 25-3½ (7.71); 8. *Ja’Mari Ward (Mo) 25-3½ (7.71).
TJ: 1. **Georgi Nachev’ (Mo-Bul) 53-5½ (16.29) PR; 2. **Jequan Hogan (TxT) 52-8¾ (16.07); 3. ***Sean Dixon-Bodie (LSU) 52-7½ (16.04) out PR; 4. Wasome52-6¾ (16.02).
SP: 1. *Kyle Mitchell (Lib) 61-11½ (18.88) PR.
DT: 1. Reggie Jagers (Iron) 198-10 (60.61); 2. Josh Boateng’ (Grn) 192-10 (58.79); 3. ***Mitchell Weber (Mo) 189-0 (57.61).
HT: 1. Sean Donnelly (adi) 248-0 (75.60) (AL) (236-0, 241-6, 245-0, f, f, 248-0) (71.95, 73.62, 74.69, f, f, 75.60);
2. Michael Shanahan (CVE) 227-5 (69.32); 3. Jon Nerdal’ (LSU-Nor) 226-5 (69.03) PR; 4. *Decio Andrade’ (Ang-Por) 225-11 (68.87); 5. *Jake Norris’ (LSU-GB) 225-0 (68.59).
JT: 1. Anderson Peters’ (Grn) 270-8 (82.51) (267-11, 270-8, 269-7, 248-2, 259-10, 262-1) (81.67, 82.51, 82.16, 75.65, 79.20, 79.88);
2. Michael Shuey (NYAC) 265-9 (81.01) (AL) (f, 232-7, f, 265-9, f, f) (f, 70.91, f, 81.01, f, f);
3. Curtis Thompson (unat) 258-11 (78.92);
4. ***Arthur Petersen’ (UTA-Den) 255-1 (77.75) (CL);
5. ***Devoux Deysel’ (Ang-SA) 242-2 (73.82) PR; 6. Donovan Banks (McN) 235-6 (71.79); 7. ***Tzuriel Pedigo (LSU) 231-1 (70.43).
Dec(3/25-26): 1. Asani Hylton’ (SFA-Jam) 7536 PR (CL);
2. Rodney Littlejohn (IncW) 7250 PR.
TEXAS RELAYS INVITATIONAL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(1.7): 1. Kiara Parker (Asics) 11.20.
200(0.7): 1. Gabby Thomas (NBal) 22.17 PR (WL, AL);
2. Jenna Prandini (Pum) 22.43; 3. Morolake Akinosun (Nik) 22.53; 4. ***Kevona Davis’ (Tx-Jam) 22.93; 5. Keni Harrison (adi) 23.04; 6. Teahna Daniels (Nik) 23.22; 7. Natasha Hastings (UArm) 23.35.
400: 1. Shamier Little (adi) 50.19 PR (WL, AL);
2. Shiann Salmon’ (Jam) 51.74 PR; 3. Gianna Woodruff’ (Pan) 52.78 PR; 4. Maggie Barrie’ (SL) 53.07.
800: 1. Allie Wilson (AtlTC) 2:02.56 =PR; 2. Olivia Baker (GardStTC) 2:03.04; 3. Kendra Chambers (Ois) 2:03.47; 4. Megan Malasarte (AtlTC) 2:05.32; 5. **Valery Tobias (Tx) 2:05.52 PR.
1500: 1. Sarah Lancaster (unat) 4:14.87 PR; 2. Yolanda Ngarambe’ (Swe) 4:17.30.
400H: 1. Sparkle McKnight’ (Tri) 57.27.
4 x 100: 1. UT Elite 42.71 (WL);
2. TBB TC 42.90 (Burton’, Thomas, Akinosun, Henderson).
4 x 400: 1. Hurdle Mechanic 3:30.76 (Abbott, Woodruff’, Little, Hailey).
PV: 1. **Nastassja Campbell (Ar) 14-9½ (4.51) PR (out CL);
2. tie, ***Sydney Horn (HPt) & *Tuesdi Tidwell (Bay) 14-5½ (4.41) (Horn =PR [=7, =9 AJ] (Tidwell out PR); 4. Lauren Martinez (Ar) 14-1¾ (4.31) out PR; 5. ***Gennifer Hirata (SD) 14-1¾ (4.31) out PR.
Elite PV: 1. Sandi Morris (Pum) 15-9 (4.80) (AL) (14-9, 15-1, 15-5 [3], 15-9 [2], 16-1¾ [xxx]) (4.50, 4.60, 4.70 [3], 4.80 [2], 4.92 [xxx]);
2. Bridget Guy (unat) 15-5 (4.70) =PR (14-5¼, 14-9, 15-1, 15-5 [3], 15-9 [xxx]) (4.40, 4.50, 4.60, 4.70 [3], 4.80 [xxx]); 3. *Lisa Gunnarsson’ (LSU-Swe) 14-9 (4.50); 4. Morgann LeLeux (unat) 14-5¼ (4.40).
TEXAS RELAYS OPEN WOMEN’S RESULTS
(3/25—1500, St, 5K, 10K, HT; 3/26—PV, LJ, DT)
100(1.8): 1. **Tiana Wilson (Ar) 11.12 (=WL; lo-alt WL; AL, CL);
2. ***Thelma Davies (LSU) 11.21 PR; 3. **Cambrea Sturgis (NCAT) 11.23; 4. ***Jonah Ross (NCAT) 11.30 PR; 5. ***Camille Rutherford (Hous) 11.32 PR; 6. **Kamaya Debose-Epps (NCAT) 11.35; 7. Cassondra Hall (UNLV) 11.38; 8. **Immanuela Aliu’ (TxAM-Ngr) 11.43.
200(0.8): 1. Sturgis 22.87 (out CL);
2. Davies 22.89 PR; 3. *Delecia McDuffie (NCAT) 23.04 PR; 4. ***Kavia Francis’ (Bay-Jam) 23.14 PR; 5. *Cecilia Tamayo-Garza’ (Hous-Mex) 23.16 PR; 6. ***Rhasidat Adeleke’ (Tx-Ire) 23.27 PR.
400: 1. **Paris Peoples (Ar) 51.67 PR (out CL);
2. Shafiqua Maloney’ (Ar-StV) 51.72 PR; 3. **Tierra Robinson-Jones (TxAM) 51.94 PR; 4. ***Amber Anning’ (LSU-GB) 52.08 PR; 5. *Morgan Burks Magee (Ar) 52.61 PR.
800: 1. **Katy-Ann McDonald’ (LSU-GB) 2:06.84; 2. **Stephanie Moss’ (OkSt-GB) 2:06.84 PR.
1500: 1. *Aaliyah Miller (Bay) 4:23.73 PR.
St: 1. *Carolien’ Millenaar’ (SAl-Den) 10:26.13 PR.
5000: 1. **Florance Uwajeneza’ (WTx-Rwa) 16:29.50 PR.
10,000: 1. *Madeline Vondra (Tx) 33:55.72.
100H(1.6): 1. Tonea Marshall (LSU) 12.75 (AL, CL);
2. ***Alia Armstrong (LSU) 12.85 PR; 3. **Yoveinny Mota’ (Ar-Ven) 12.97 PR =NR; 4. *Milan Young (LSU) 13.06 PR; 5. ***Daszay Freeman’ (Ar-Jam) 13.08 PR; 6. *Naomi Taylor (Hous) 13.21; 7. Madeleine Akobundu (NCAT) 13.26; 8. Brittley Humphrey (LSU) 13.41; 9. *Kennedy Smith (TxAM) 13.42.
400H: 1. *Jurnee Woodward (LSU) 56.64 PR (CL);
2. Young 56.94; 3. *Faith Roberson (UTSA) 57.54 PR; 4. Humphrey 57.54; 5. **Lexye Price (TxT) 58.05 PR; 6. ***Leah Phillips (LSU) 58.19 PR; 7. *Ashton Woods (SMU) 58.31 PR; 8. *Sydni Townsend (NCAT) 58.32.
4 x 100: 1. LSU 42.87 (CL) (Marshall, Ofili’, Mason, Davies);
2. Texas 43.04 (Douglas, Adeleke’, Davis’, Flannel); 3. Texas A&M 43.87 (Smith, Owens, Aliu’, Hall); 4. North Carolina A&T 44.19; 5. Baylor 44.65.
4 x 400: 1. Arkansas 3:26.63 (out WL, CL) (Maloney’ 51.5, Peoples 52.5, Effiong 52.00, Campbell 50.58);
2. Texas 3:28.10 (Douglas, Simon, Flannel 52.69, Adeleke’ 50.77); 3. LSU 3:32.28; 4. Kansas 3:32.64; 5. Texas Tech 3:32.85; 6. Baylor 3:33.31; 7. Houston 3:34.91; 8. Oklahoma State 3:37.78.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Rachel McCoy (unat) 6-2 (1.88) (out AL) (5-9¼, 5-11½, 6-2 [2], 6-3¼ [xxx]) (1.76, 1.82, 1.88 [2], 1.91 [xxx]);
2. *Abigail O’Donoghue (LSU) 6-2 (1.88) out PR (out CL; =out AL) (5-9¼, 5-10½, 5-11½, 6-¾, 6-2 [xxo], 6-3¼ [xxx]) (1.76, 1.79, 1.82, 1.85, 1.88 [xxo], 1.91 [xxx]);
3. **Lamara Distin’ (TxAM-Jam) 6-¾ (1.85).
PV: 1. *Nathalie Elliott (HPt) 13-9¾ (4.21) PR.
LJ: 1. **Tara Davis (Tx) 23-5¼ (7.14) CR (old CR 22-11¼/6.99 Jackie Joyner-Kersee [UCLA] ’85) (WL, AL, CL) (5, x A) (f, f, 22-10½ PR [=2, =2 C], 23-5¼, p, p) (f, f, 6.97, 7.14, p, p);
2. *Ruth Usoro’ (TxT-Ngr) 22-2¼ (6.76) PR (22-1, 22-¾w, f, 21-11¾w, f, 22-2¼) (6.73, 6.72w, f, 6.70w, f, 6.76); 3. Sha’keela Saunders (adi) 21-11¾w (6.70); 4. Sydney Conley (unat) 21-7¼ (6.58); 5. *Monae Nichols (TxT) 21-5½ (6.54) PR; 6. Jasmyn Steels (NWnLa) 21-5¼w (6.53) (20-11¾/6.39); 7. Mercy Abire’ (LSU-Ngr) 20-11¾ (6.39) PR; 8. Destiny Longmire (TCU) 20-8½ (6.31); 9. Baileh Simms’ (Can) 20-7¼ (6.28).
TJ: 1. *Deborah Acquah’ (TxAM-Gha) 45-5¾ (13.86) PR (out CL) (43-4¼, 45-5¾, 45-1¾, 43-7¾, 45-1¾, 43-7¼) (13.21, 13.86, 13.76, 13.30, 13.76, 13.29);
2. ***Mikeisha Welcome’ (Ok-Can) 44-6¼ (13.57) PR; 3. Michelle Fokam (Rice) 43-10½ (13.37); 4. *Essence Thomas (Ok) 43-7 (13.28) PR; 5. **Jonon Young (UNLV) 43-3¼ (13.19) PR; 6. **Arianna Fisher (Mo) 42-11¾ (13.10) PR.
SP: 1. **Payden Montana (Ok) 56-9½ (17.31) PR; 2. Elena Bruckner (Tx) 56-4¾ (17.19) PR; 3. *Kayli Johnson (TxT) 55-10½ (17.03) PR; 4. *Zada Swoopes (WTxAM) 55-0 (16.76) =PR; 5. **Faith Ette (Ok) 54-2½ (16.52) PR; 6. **Erna Gunnarsdóttir’ (Rice-Ice) 53-3¾ (16.25); PR 7. *Annina Brandenburg’ (ACU-Ger) 52-1¼ (15.88); 8. Autavia Fluker (SAl) 52-¾ (15.87).
DT: 1. Valarie Allman (Asics) 218-0 (66.46) (AL) (x, 13 A) (218-0, 216-3, f, 209-2, f, f) (66.46, 65.93, f, 63.75, f, f);
2. *Seasons Usual (TxT) 184-3 (56.16); 3. Nora Monie (Hous) 183-1 (55.81) PR; 4. Bruckner 179-9 (54.80); 5. *Lauren Jones (Ok) 177-1 (53.98); 6. Swoopes 173-8 (52.94).
HT: 1. Fluker 219-6 (66.90) PR; 2. Jones 212-11 (64.91); 3. *Kaila Butler’ (BG-Can) 212-10 (64.88); 4. ***Emma Robbins (LSU) 211-2 (64.36) PR; 5. Mikaila Martin (Hous) 210-5 (64.15) PR; 6. ***Tara Simpson-Sullivan’ (Rice-GB) 205-5 (62.61); 7. Jordan McClendon (Mo) 205-5 (62.61); 8. Taylor Scaife (Hous) 200-8 (61.16); 9. *Quiara Wheeler (CMi) 198-6 (60.50).
JT: 1. Maggie Malone (unat) 204-8 (62.38) PR (AL) (5, x A) (176-4, f, f, 191-7, 188-0, 204-8) (53.75, f, f, 58.41, 57.30, 62.38);
2. Ariana Ince (Vel) 194-8 (59.35) (f, 178-7, 194-8, f, f, f) (f, 54.44, 59.35, f, f, f);
3. *Ashton Riner (BYU) 188-0 (57.31) PR (AmCL);
4. ***Skylar Ciccolini (Mo) 175-2 (53.39); 5. Avione Allgood-Whetsto (USAr) 174-3 (53.11).
Hept(3/25.26): 1. Taliyah Brooks (Asics) 6252 PR (AL) (12.95w, 5-11½/1.82, 39-2½/11.95, 24.07 [3767], 21-10¼/6.66, 126-9/38.63, 2:22.89 [2485]);
2. ***Kristine Blazevica’ (Tx-Lat) 5813 PR (CL);
3. Grace McKenzie’ (McN-Ire) 5734 PR; 4. ***Annika Williams (Ky) 5361 PR; 5. *G’Auna Edwards (Ar) 5326 PR; 6. *Hanna-Mai Vaikla’ (SAl-Est) 5307.
