Texas Freshmen Advance To NCAA D1 Indoor Championship


Texas Freshmen Advance To NCAA D1 Indoor Championship

Men 400m

The standout duo of Wil London and Obi Igbokwe will hit the track in the 400m. Both were ranked in the US Top-10 from the 2015 outdoor season. Igbokwe is already nearing his outdoor 400m PR of 46.22. The Waco and Woodlands graduates finished 4th place at the Big 12 and SEC conference championships over the weekend.

Event 3  Men 400 Meter Dash (16) Prelims
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           Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1    522 Zack Bilderback               SR Texas                 45.27
  2    246 Michael Cherry                JR LSU                   45.61
  3    448 Izaiah Brown                  FR Rutgers               45.62
  4     55 Marqueze Washington           SR Arkansas              45.72
  5    304 Kahmari Montgomery            FR Missouri              45.78
  6    143 Arman Hall                    SR Florida               45.79
  7    247 Fitzroy Dunkley               SR LSU                   46.04
  8    521 Aldrich Bailey Jr.            JR Texas                 46.11
  9    142 Najee Glass                   SR Florida               46.11
 10    289 Alfred Larry                  SR Miss State            46.13
 11    631 Emmanuel Dasor                JR W. Kentucky           46.21
 12    552 Kyle Collins                  JR Texas Tech            46.24
 13    507 Nathan Strother               SO Tennessee             46.25
 14     75 Wil London                    FR Baylor                46.26
 15    526 Byron Robinson                JR Texas                 46.27
 16     46 Obi Igbokwe                   FR Arkansas              46.29

McWilliams + Lattin in action at the American Conference Champs. Photo: Houston Cougar Track & Field

Men 60H

Marcus McWilliams was an unstoppable force during the 2015 Texas outdoor season. His 13.63 PR in the 110H at Texas Relays locked him in at #3 in the nation for the entire season. After going undefeated in his final season of HS racing in the 110H, he's carried that momentum into his first year with Houston. He has already tied the Houston school record, and he won the American 60H final in a meet record time of 7.74. Also showing up big in the same race was Fort Bend Marshall grad Amere Lattin. Lattin finished 4th in 7.98 to help the Cougars become back to back American Athletic Conference Champions.

Event 8  Men 60 Meter Hurdles (16) Prelims
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           Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1    404 Devon Allen                   SO Oregon                 7.60
  2    253 Jordan Moore                  JR LSU                    7.60
  3    214 William Barnes                SR Kent State             7.67
  4    197 Aaron Mallett                 JR Iowa                   7.69
  5    387 Israel Nelson                 FR Oral Roberts           7.69
  6    460 Dondre Echols                 SR South Carolina         7.69
  7    647 Chad Zallow                   FR Youngstown St          7.69
  8    487 Freddie III Crittenden        JR Syracuse               7.70
  9    178 Trey Holloway                 SR Hampton                7.70
 10    144 Yanick Hart                   JR Florida                7.71
 11    318 Oladapo Akinmoladun           SR Nebraska               7.71
 12    644 Jordan Charles                JR Wyoming                7.72
 13    627 Chris Williams                SR Washington             7.72
 14    183 Marcus McWilliams             FR Houston                7.72
 15    308 Michael Dickson               FR N. Carolina A&T        7.74
 16    550 Chris Caldwell                SR Texas Tech             7.74

Baylor squad ran a Big 12 meet record and 2nd fastest time in school history. Photo: @BaylorTrack

Men 4x400m

The Texas 400m studs will be back in action for the 4x400m relay. Wil London helped Baylor run the 2nd fastest time in the entire NCAA to win the Big 12 Championships in a tight battle with Texas, which also crushed the Longhorn's chances to win the overall team title. Obi Igbokwe's Arkansas squad was 5th at the SEC champs, but they will be prepped to run well under the 3:09 they posted over the weekend. Don't forget about 5A State Champion and Lancaster grad Eric Age who will carrying the baton for Texas A&M at the D1 national championship!

Event 9  Men 4x400 Meter Relay (12)
===============================================================================
     School                                                  Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Florida                                              3:04.02
     1) 141 Eric Futch JR               2) 140 Kunle Fasasi FR            
     3) 142 Najee Glass SR              4) 143 Arman Hall SR              
  2  Baylor                                               3:04.16
     1) 75 Wil London FR                2) 74 Richard Gary SR             
     3) 73 Caleb Dickson FR             4) 72 George Caddick JR           
  3  Texas                                                3:04.41
     1) 522 Zack Bilderback SR          2) 525 Christopher Irvin JR       
     3) 526 Byron Robinson JR           4) 521 Aldrich Bailey Jr. JR      
  4  LSU                                                  3:04.46
     1) 249 Cyril Grayson SR            2) 245 Lamar Bruton JR            
     3) 246 Michael Cherry JR           4) 247 Fitzroy Dunkley SR         
  5  Texas Tech                                           3:04.98
     1) 551 Steven Champlin SO          2) 556 Joseph Richards III SR     
     3) 555 Charles Jones SO            4) 552 Kyle Collins JR            
  6  Arkansas                                             3:05.35
     1) 46 Obi Igbokwe FR               2) 55 Marqueze Washington SR      
     3) 53 Jamarco Stephen SO           4) 48 Jarrion Lawson SR           
  7  Ohio State                                           3:06.38
     1) 355 Antonio Blanks SR           2) 357 Nick Gray FR               
     3) 358 Jerry Jackson SO            4) 361 Champ Page SR              
  8  Nebraska                                             3:06.47
     1) 323 Andrew Neal SO              2) 319 Oliver Alexandre FR        
     3) 322 Mate Koroknai JR            4) 324 Cody Rush SR               
  9  Purdue                                               3:06.59
     1) 443 Nicholas Parks SR           2) 446 Kyle Webb JR               
     3) 445 Kinard Rolle SO             4) 442 Shawndail McLaren FR       
 10  Miss State                                           3:06.69
     1) 294 Juston Waters SO            2) 289 Alfred Larry SR            
     3) 290 Brandon McBride SR          4) 293 Charles Taylor JR          
 11  Texas A&M                                            3:06.73
     1) 537 Robert Grant SO             2) 540 Deon Hickey JR             
     3) 542 Fred Kerley JR              4) 533 Eric Age FR                
 12  Tennessee                                            3:07.07
     1) 504 Ari Cogdell FR              2) 505 Christian Coleman SO       
     3) 503 Antonio Carter SR           4) 507 Nathan Strother SO  

Jacob Wooten in action at Texas Relays. Photo: Travis Miller

Men Pole Vault

Jacob Wooten wasn't the top vaulter in the state during his final year of high school competition, but he is the only Texan to advance to the national championship. He was tied for 3rd in the state and 9th in the US with his 4A State Championship winning 17-0 clearance. In his collegiate season with Texas A&M Wooten finished 4th at the SEC Champs and cleared his PR 17-11 in early February at the Charlie Thomas Invite.

Event 12  Men Pole Vault (16)
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           Name                        Year School            Seed Mark           
===============================================================================
  1    501 Jake Blankenship              SR Tennessee             5.72m
  2    609 Torben Laidig                 SO Virginia Tech         5.62m
  3     11 Dylan Bell                    SR Air Force             5.56m
  4     27 Pau Tonnesen                  SR Arizona               5.53m
  5    547 Audie Wyatt                   SO Texas A&M             5.51m
  6    626 Jax Thoirs                    SR Washington            5.48m
  7    453 Devin King                    SO SE Louisiana          5.47m
  8    348 Nate Richartz                 JR Notre Dame            5.46m
  9    546 Jacob Wooten                  FR Texas A&M             5.46m
 10    610 Deakin Volz                   FR Virginia Tech         5.46m
 11    205 Casey Bowen                   SR Kansas                5.43m
 12     95 Adrian Valles                 SO Cincinnati            5.43m
 13    527 Reese Watson                  SR Texas                 5.43m
 14    545 Chase Wolfle                  SR Texas A&M             5.43m
 15    636 Derek O'Connell               JR William and Mary      5.42m
 16    456 Sean Collins                  FR South Alabama         5.42m

Photo: @BaylorTrack

Women 60m

Taylor Bennett was ranked 15th in the US in the 100m for the 2015 outdoor track season, and she is now seeded 15th going into the NCAA Championship. Pretty solid start for the former Klein Collins athlete! Outside of her state title in the 100m, she has experience at high caliber meets from her appearance in the Dream 100m in New York City. She will battle with UT's Teahna Daniels(FL) for the bragging rights as fastest freshman in the state of Texas!

Event 17  Women 60 Meter Dash (16) Prelims
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           Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1    135 Shayla Sanders                SR Florida                7.17
  2    236 Mikiah Brisco                 SO LSU                    7.18
  3    402 Jasmine Todd                  JR Oregon                 7.20
  4    391 Hannah Cunliffe               SO Oregon                 7.21
  5    495 Felicia Brown                 SR Tennessee              7.23
  6    512 Teahna Daniels                FR Texas                  7.23
  7    511 Morolake Akinosun             SR Texas                  7.24
  8    101 Myasia Jacobs                 SR Clemson                7.24
  9    221 Javianne Oliver               JR Kentucky               7.26
 10    531 Jennifer Madu                 SR Texas A&M              7.26
 11    496 Kali Davis-White              JR Tennessee              7.28
 12     56 Kristina Knott                SO Arkansas State         7.28
 13    485 Shaina Harrison               SR Syracuse               7.29
 14    630 Carrol Hardy                  JR W. Kentucky            7.30
 15     64 Taylor Bennett                FR Baylor                 7.30
 16     62 Jonielle Smith                SO Auburn                 7.31

Taylor Bennett after the 100m final at Texas Relays. Photo: Travis Miller

Women 200m

I think Taylor Bennett was one of the most underrated sprinters in the nation last year. She ran plenty of fast times, but didn't compete at too many elite events. With many Texas high school meets laking wind data, the sprint times can't count in the actual FAT/Wind Legal national rankings. Bennett has been on fire in the 200m all season! She's on a streak of sub-24s marks led by her breakout performance at Big 12s. She finished 2nd place in a 23.08, which is her all time PR in the 200m and puts her as the #4 overall seed in the 200m at the National Championship!

Event 18  Women 200 Meter Dash (16) Prelims
===============================================================================
           Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1    495 Felicia Brown                 SR Tennessee             22.45
  2    131 Kyra Jefferson                SR Florida               22.72
  3    242 Jada Martin                   JR LSU                   22.92
  4     64 Taylor Bennett                FR Baylor                23.08
  5    576 Deanna Hill                   SO USC                   23.09
  6    362 Daye Shon Roberson            JR Oklahoma              23.14
  7    401 Deajah Stevens                FR Oregon                23.14
  8    208 A'Keyla Mitchell              SO Kansas State          23.16
  9    532 Diamond Spaulding             FR Texas A&M             23.19
 10    262 Shakima Wimbley               JR Miami                 23.20
 11    496 Kali Davis-White              JR Tennessee             23.23
 12    391 Hannah Cunliffe               SO Oregon                23.24
 13    528 Aaliyah Brown                 JR Texas A&M             23.30
 14    447 Gabrielle Farquharson         SR Rutgers               23.32
 15    511 Morolake Akinosun             SR Texas                 23.33
 16    100 Sabria Hadley                 JR Clemson               23.35

Baylor women posted the 4th fastest 4x400m in school history! Photo: @BaylorTrack

Women 4x400m

It's a hat trick for Taylor Bennett. The 4x400m will be the 3rd event she is entered in for the NCAA D1 Champs in Alabama. Joining the 100m 6A State Champion will be the 200m 6A State Champion Kiana Horton. Horton is another one of Texas' underrated sprinters who fell victim to the lack of wind data which in turn dimished her chances of national recognition in high school. Her 23.10 state title winning time ranks US #4 all conditions for the 2015 outdoor season.

Event 25  Women 4x400 Meter Relay (12)
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     School                                                  Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Texas                                                3:27.94
     1) 514 Chrisann Gordon JR          2) 511 Morolake Akinosun SR       
     3) 515 Ariel Jones SO              4) 517 Courtney Okolo SR          
  2  USC                                                  3:28.82
     1) 575 Kendall Ellis SO            2) 577 Amalie Iuel JR             
     3) 576 Deanna Hill SO              4) 579 Jaide Stepter SR           
  3  Florida                                              3:30.51
     1) 133 Robin Reynolds SR           2) 131 Kyra Jefferson SR          
     3)                                 4) 130 Claudia Francis SR         
  4  Tennessee                                            3:30.56
     1) 497 Lenysse Dyer FR             2) 498 Felecia Majors JR          
     3) 500 Layla White FR              4) 495 Felicia Brown SR           
  5  Arkansas                                             3:30.63
     1) 40 Payton Stumbaugh SO          2) 37 Daina Harper JR             
     3) 41 Brianna Swinton JR           4) 34 Taylor Ellis-Watson SR      
  6  Kentucky                                             3:31.50
     1) 220 Jasmine Mitchell JR         2) 224 Kiah Seymour SR            
     3) 216 Destiny Carter JR           4) 218 Ariah Graham JR            
  7  Purdue                                               3:32.07
     1) 438 Aarin Jones SR              2) 435 Carmiesha Cox JR           
     3) 432 Symone Black SO             4) 439 Brionna Thomas SO          
  8  Oregon                                               3:32.40
     1) 395 Alaysha Johnson FR          2) 401 Deajah Stevens FR          
     3) 394 Ashante Horsley JR          4) 400 Raevyn Rogers SO           
  9  Arizona                                              3:32.54
     1) 25 Tatum Waggoner SO            2) 23 Nnenya Hailey SR            
     3) 24 Gia Trevisan SR              4) 26 Sage Watson JR              
 10  Ohio State                                           3:32.88
     1) 353 Sonikqua Walker SR          2) 351 Beatrice Hannan SO         
     3) 350 Alexis Franklin SR          4) 354 Karrington Winters FR      
 11  Iowa                                                 3:32.93
     1) 194 Montayla Holder SR          2) 191 Briana Guillory FR         
     3) 193 Alexis Hernandez JR         4) 192 Elexis Guster JR           
 12  Baylor                                               3:33.47
     1) 64 Taylor Bennett FR            2) 67 Kiana Hawn SO               
     3) 69 Kiana Horton FR              4) 71 Olicia Williams SR

See the complete entry lists on FloTrack | See How All Texas High Shool Alumni Did This Weekend Here