Texas Tech Athletics
Texas Relays
Tech Tallies Balanced Day Two At Texas Relays
March 27, 2015 | Track and Field
Nick Rivera and the Tech distance medley relay nearly broke the outdoor school record in the event, on their way to a second-place finish on Friday.
March 27, 2015
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Tech track & field put together a complete performance, excelling in a variety of events, on day two of the Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, in Austin, Texas, on Friday.
Cierra White walloped the field in her 100 meter dash preliminary heat, running the nation's fastest time in the process (11.35). That mark was good enough to win heat 12 by nearly half a second, and earn her the top qualifying spot for tomorrow's final.
Trey Culver cleared a personal-best 2.14m/7-0.25 to take second place in the "B" section of the high jump, becoming the fourth of the No. 10 Red Raiders to clear a bar set at seven feet or higher in 2015.
"Clearing that bar just makes me feel even more motivated," Culver said. "I just thank God that I finally cleared it. Going forward, I think this gives me more confidence."
After missing on his first two tries, Culver received some advice from teammate Bradley Adkins, who encouraged Culver to start a synchronized slow clap consisting of the people nearby, something he had not done up to that point. With the noise behind him, Culver flew over the bar with ease.
"It might be something I start doing a little more," Culver said.
Elsewhere on the track, Tech flexed its hurdle muscle once again in the prelims, as Chris Caldwell (13.91) and Le'Tristan Pledger (13.49) qualified for their respective finals. Pledger's run was good enough for the No. 7 mark in the NCAA--another big mark for the No. 13 Lady Raiders.
The Red Raider sprint medley relay (Trevor Mackey, Joseph Richards III, Steven Champlin, C.J. Jones) placed fourth in the event, with a 3:17.28. The Tech men continued the good run of relay performances in the distance medley, where Nick Rivera, Kareem McBride, Kendall McVey and Evans Tuitoek clocked a 9:40.12, good enough for second place. The Red Raiders missed the DMR school record by only a second and a half
JW Smith ran a big personal best in the 400 meter hurdles, a 50.73, which was good enough for seventh place, and also currently stands as the No. 7 time in the NCAA.
The Tech women's 4 x 100 meter relay, consisting of White, Pledger, Lygia Forman and Montenae Speight ran a 45.75 to take the final qualifying spot for tomorrow's final.
Gionna Jackson had a season-best leap of 12.62m/41-5.0 to place third in the "A" section of the women's triple jump, and Paetyn Revell (5.57m/18-3.25) and Amani Nesmith (5.53m/18-1.25) took seventh and eighth, respectively, in the "B" section of the women's long jump.
Jerome Wilson took 11th in the "A" section of the triple jump on the men's side, with a jump of 14.66m/48-1.25.
In the men's discus, Kole Weldon had a throw of 53.46m/175-5, which was good enough for 11th place in the "A" section.
"There were some great performances today," Texas Tech head coach Wes Kittley said. "Cierra [White] looked the best I've ever seen her look at this meet on opening day. Trey [Culver] is starting to become consistent with what he can do, and it was great to see him get over seven feet. JW [Smith] ran a great race, and I'm proud of the distance medley relay. To see them run so well and nearly break the school record was exciting. I'm looking forward to more great efforts like that tomorrow."
Texas Tech returns to action tomorrow morning for the final day of the Texas Relays. Field events begin at 10 a.m., and running events get started at noon.
Players Mentioned
