Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Land Huge Marks At Arkansas Open
February 21, 2015 | Track and Field
Steven Champlin and the Tech men's 4 x 400m relay moved into the No. 9 spot in the NCAA, on Saturday.
Feb. 21, 2015
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The No. 13 Texas Tech men's track & field team needed some huge marks to qualify for nationals in the long jump and 4 x 400 meter relay, and they got those marks on Saturday at the Arkansas Open, in Fayetteville, Ark.
In the 4 x 400 meter relay, the quartet of Steven Champlin, Kyle Collins, Joseph Richards III and C.J. Jones flew down the track, finishing in a season-best 3:07.00, moving them from No. 13 in the NCAA, to No. 9. The top 12 relays qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
"I'm pleased with how they ran," Texas Tech head coach Wes Kittley said. "That puts us back into the field, so now we just have to sweat out the conference meets. I'm really happy but cautious at the same time."
In the men's long jump, Keniel Grant leaped a personal-best 7.86m/25-9.50 to win the event, and vaulted from No. 21 to No. 6 in the nation. He improved his lifetime-best mark by nearly a foot in the process, and moved into a tie for ninth place on the Tech all-time long jump performance list. The top 16 marks in each non-relay event qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Jerome Wilson placed second in the event, jumping 7.58m/24-10.50.
"What a phenomenal jump from Keniel [Grant]," Kittley said. "To improve by an inch or two in the long jump is great, but a foot is unreal. That puts him in the national meet, no doubt. I'm so excited for him."
The Red Raiders will be back in action next weekend, Feb. 27-28, at the Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships, in Ames, Iowa.
Players Mentioned
