Texas Tech University Athletics
Adkins Records PR, Finishes 21st In Olympic High Jump
August 14, 2016 | Track and Field
Bradley Adkins posted an outdoor-best and finished in the top half of the field on Sunday.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Texas Tech track & field's Bradley Adkins became the first Red Raider high jumper to compete at the Olympics on Sunday, where he opened in the qualifying round at Olympic Stadium.
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Adkins finished 21st in his Olympic debut, but the crowd wouldn't know it, as he got them involved several times throughout the event, which helped him clear three bars during the night.
"It was a fun atmosphere," Adkins said. "To watch the 100, see the 400 [world record] get broken, it was a fun atmosphere. I really enjoyed it. I was hoping to finish a little better but that's how it goes sometimes."
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The opening bar in Sunday's competition was set at 2.17m/7-1.5, and Adkins looked good on all three of his attempts at the bar. On the first, he clipped the bar with his backside; on the second, he hit it with his foot; but his third was perfect, clearing the height to move on in the event.
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Every athlete in the field made it past the first height; however, the second bar started to claim victims. Adkins would not fall into that group, as he sailed over the bar at 2.22m/7-3.25 on his second attempt to advance to the third height. Ten competitors would did not move on, bringing the total to 34 left as the bar was raised to 2.26m/7-5.
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Ten more would fall at 2.26m/7-5, but not Adkins. Mimicking his second round of the event, Adkins went up-and-over the bar successfully on his second attempt to be one of 24 left in the field.
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Adkins would bow out at the next bar, putting up three great attempts at 2.29m/7-6, but clipped the bar on all three and did not advance to the next round. His clearance at 2.26m/7-5 marked an outdoor PR and capped a storybook 2016 for the Idalou native.
"It was exciting, I had a lot of fun," Adkins said. "I was jumping great, my hip height was really good and my hips were moving. Unfortunately, my timing wsa just a little off over the top, so I didn't finish how I wanted to. I'm humbled and blessed to be out here and so thankful for this opportunity. Hopefully, I represented as best as I could."
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He was the 10th Red Raider in the school's history to compete at the Olympics and second in 2016, joining Gil Roberts, who ran in the 400-meter dash earlier in the week and will be a member of the 4x400-meter relay starting Friday, Aug. 19. Two-time Olympian Michael Mathieu will also have an opportunity to run in the mile relay, but will don a uniform the Bahamas' uniform.
"To stay hungry and keep working," Adkins on what he learned from the experience. "That's the plan. There's a little hole because I wanted to compete a little better, but I'm just going to keep working, trust the process and trust God and the path He has for me."
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Adkins finished 21st in his Olympic debut, but the crowd wouldn't know it, as he got them involved several times throughout the event, which helped him clear three bars during the night.
"It was a fun atmosphere," Adkins said. "To watch the 100, see the 400 [world record] get broken, it was a fun atmosphere. I really enjoyed it. I was hoping to finish a little better but that's how it goes sometimes."
Â
The opening bar in Sunday's competition was set at 2.17m/7-1.5, and Adkins looked good on all three of his attempts at the bar. On the first, he clipped the bar with his backside; on the second, he hit it with his foot; but his third was perfect, clearing the height to move on in the event.
Â
Every athlete in the field made it past the first height; however, the second bar started to claim victims. Adkins would not fall into that group, as he sailed over the bar at 2.22m/7-3.25 on his second attempt to advance to the third height. Ten competitors would did not move on, bringing the total to 34 left as the bar was raised to 2.26m/7-5.
Â
Ten more would fall at 2.26m/7-5, but not Adkins. Mimicking his second round of the event, Adkins went up-and-over the bar successfully on his second attempt to be one of 24 left in the field.
Â
Adkins would bow out at the next bar, putting up three great attempts at 2.29m/7-6, but clipped the bar on all three and did not advance to the next round. His clearance at 2.26m/7-5 marked an outdoor PR and capped a storybook 2016 for the Idalou native.
"It was exciting, I had a lot of fun," Adkins said. "I was jumping great, my hip height was really good and my hips were moving. Unfortunately, my timing wsa just a little off over the top, so I didn't finish how I wanted to. I'm humbled and blessed to be out here and so thankful for this opportunity. Hopefully, I represented as best as I could."
Â
He was the 10th Red Raider in the school's history to compete at the Olympics and second in 2016, joining Gil Roberts, who ran in the 400-meter dash earlier in the week and will be a member of the 4x400-meter relay starting Friday, Aug. 19. Two-time Olympian Michael Mathieu will also have an opportunity to run in the mile relay, but will don a uniform the Bahamas' uniform.
"To stay hungry and keep working," Adkins on what he learned from the experience. "That's the plan. There's a little hole because I wanted to compete a little better, but I'm just going to keep working, trust the process and trust God and the path He has for me."
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Second times the charm! Adkins goes up and over 2.26m/7-5 and successfully clears! #WreckEm #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/MfwyYPlIi1
— TTU Track & Field/XC (@TTU_TF_XC) August 15, 2016
Players Mentioned
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