Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Red Raider Open
Tech Enjoys Monster Performance At Red Raider Open
April 30, 2015 | Track and Field
April 30, 2015
He was singing the same tune tonight.
The No. 6 Red Raiders and no. 12 Lady Raiders combined for 15 event wins and nearly 30 marks that either equaled or created new personal-bests at the Red Raider Open, in Lubbock, Texas, on Thursday.
The highlight of the day took place at the women's triple jump, where three Lady Raiders scored top-12 NCAA marks to lead the No. 12 women's team. Paetyn Revell threw down jump after jump that broke her previous personal best, and it all culminated in a school record flight of 13.43m/44-0.75, two and a half feet longer than her previous wind-legal personal best. That mark vaulted her to No. 3 in the nation.
Viershanie Latham had a personal-best mark as well, leaping 13.17m/43-2.50, which slightly moves her up the national standings to No. 8, and Gionna Jackson completed the trio of personal-bests marks, jumping 12.98m/42-7.0, good enough for No. 12 in the nation.
Latham took fourth in the long jump, leaping a personal best mark there as well, a jump of 6.07m/19-11.0. Revell and Jackson tied for fifth with a jump of 6.00m/19-8.25, which is a personal-best leap for Revell. Le'Tristan Pledger took second in the long jump, leaping a season-best 6.24m/20-5.75, and Shanice Stewart, competing unattached, broke the Fuller Track & Field Complex facility record with a jump of 6.58m/21-7.0 to win the event.
"You just don't see things like that in our sport," Kittley said. "To not only set a new personal best, but to also pretty much match that jump over and over again is something special. The great thing is, is those were just a few of the many great performances we had today."
Leading the way for the No. 6 Red Raiders was JaCorian Duffield, who won the high jump, with a clearance of 2.26m/7-5.0. He is still undefeated in the outdoor season, and has not lost in the high jump since Feb. 14, at the indoor Tyson Invitational.
In the sprints and hurdles, the usual suspects led the way on the women's side. Cierra White (23.17) won the 200 meters, and Le'Tristan Pledger ran a very fast 13.02 to win the 100 meter hurdles.
On the men's side, Tech picked up some solid regional marks in the sprints. Trevor Mackey (10.26) and Nigel Bethel (10.41) each won their 100 meter dash heats, and also turned in solid performances in the 200 meter dash, running 20.70 and 21.02, respectively. Kareem McBride stole the show in the 200 meters however, running a quick 20.67, just two tenths off the school record in his first run of the season in that event.
In the men's 110 meter hurdles, Chris Caldwell took second overall, but was the top collegian, with a time of 13.65. Tramaine Maloney (13.78) and Darien Tennon (13.97) each ran personal bests to place third and fourth.
JW Smith (51.15) and Darien Tennon (51.36) went 1-2 in the men's 400 meter hurdles, and Kendall McVey ran a personal-best 1:50.77 to win the 800 meters. Madeline Livergood took the victory in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase, with a time of 11:39.90.
Tech swept the pole vault with huge personal-best performances on the women's side from Reece Timmons (4.07m/13-4.25), who won the event, and Haley Cook (4.05m/13-3.50), who placed second. Kyle Thompson completed the event sweep with a win on the men's side, clearing 5.11m/16-9.25.
Natalie Thompson took the win in the women's high jump, clearing a personal-best height of 1.76m/5-9.25.
In the throws, Kole Weldon won the discus (56.74m/186-2), and the hammer throw (61.29m/201-1), while placing second in the shot put. Hannah Carson swept her events for the second-straight week, winning the javelin with a season-best 54.90m/180-1, taking the shot put title (14.68m/48-2) and winning the discus (52.38m/171-10).
"I think this performance is very similar to the one we had here last year," Kittley said. "This meet has always been good to me. I'm really excited to see if some of these kids who really broke out today and carry this momentum forward. This can be a huge confidence boost to this team, and I think it will be."
Texas Tech track & field will return to action May 15-17, at the Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where the Texas Tech men will look to defend their team title.
Players Mentioned
