Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Tallies Four Big 12 Titles On Sunday
May 16, 2016 | Track and Field
May 15, 2016
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Texas Tech No. 8 men's and No. 19 women's track & field teams wrapped up the 2016 Big 12 Outdoor Championship with four individual titles, bringing the weekend total to six, on Sunday, May 15, at the Lowdon Track & Field Complex.
CJ Jones runs a fantastic 800 Meters and wins the Big 12 title with a time of 1:47.93! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/5xAqPNNEUe
-- TTU Track & Field/XC (@TTU_TF_XC) May 16, 2016
The first championship of the day was claimed by sophomore Trey Culver in the men's high jump. To say that Culver was on fire would be an understatement, as there would only be one bar he didn't clear on one attempt (2.15m/7-0.5) in the whole competition. After clearing 2.15m/7-0.5 on his second try, Culver went back to first attempt clearances at 2.19m/7-2.25, along with teammate Bradley Adkins, who cruised over both bars on only one jump as well.
With three competitors left in the event, Culver quickly went to work and sailed over the bar set at 2.23m/7-3.75 on his first jump. Adkins would join him after successfully making it over on his third attempt, ensuring Texas Tech would claim their third-straight outdoor conference crown in the men's high jump.
Both men took three great cracks at 2.26m/7-5, but would bow out there, giving Culver the Big 12 title. It marked Tech's fourth outdoor crown in the event and marked three-straight years the Red Raiders have finished 1-2 in the event, as JaCorian Duffield & Adkins were the top duo in 2014 and 2015.
Only minutes later, Benard Keter raced down the track in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase to a first-place finish and a conference crown. Keter moved to the front of the pack in the middle of the race and battled for the lead after the final water jump, but would cross the finish line as champion with a time of 8:41.21.
Keter is the first men's 3000-meter steeplechase champion in Texas Tech history. His time was also the third-best in the school's record books.
Chris Caldwell recorded his fourth Big 12 hurdle championship, successfully defending his 110-meter hurdle crown on Sunday. Caldwell put together a strong race and built a nice advantage on the field as he checked in with a time of 13.82 seconds to grab the win.
It's the eighth 110-meter hurdle championship in Texas Tech history and with the win, Caldwell became the first Big 12 student-athlete to go back-to-back in the event since Red Raider alum Marlom Odom accomplished the feat in 2006 & 2007.
The final championship victory came in the men's 800 meters thanks to C.J. Jones. After being edged out in the prelims at the finish line, Jones quickly moved to the front of the field on the first lap and never let up, finishing with a time of 1:47.93 for the win.
Jones is the seventh men's outdoor 800-meter champion in school history and the first since Nick Rivera in 2013.
Tech also posted several runner-up finishes on Sunday. Hannah Carson placed second in both the discus and javelin events. In the javelin, Carson tossed the fourth-best mark in school history at 56.86m/186-6, while in the discus, her final throw of the day earned her the runner-up spot at 55.59m/182-4.
Charles Brown, who won the long jump title on day two of the meet, finished runner-up in the triple jump on day three after posting another personal-best in the event. Brown launched himself to a distance of 15.79m/51-9.75 on his second attempt to earn silver.
On the women's side, Viershanie Latham led after her first attempt (12.97m/42-6.75) of the triple jump, but would drop down to second on the next series and would remain there for the rest of the competition. She would improve with her each next two jumps, coming within less than three inches of the leader at 13.13m/43-1 on her third attempt to place second.
JW Smith also clocked in with a second-place time in the men's 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line with a time of 51.47.
Tech wrapped up the 2016 meet with six individual champions and 34 All-Big 12 members.
Up next for the Red Raiders is the NCAA West Preliminaries on May 26-28 in Lawrence, Kansas. Entries for the meet are scheduled to be released on May 19.
Players Mentioned
