Texas Tech University Athletics

Harris' Win, Several PRs Highlight Friday's Action
February 01, 2019 | Track and Field
Kaylor Harris' win, seven personal records highlight opening night of Texas Tech Open.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Director of Track & Field Wes Kittley's small group of Red Raiders competing Friday totaled seven personal bests and an event win on the first day of Tech's fourth indoor meet of the season.
The Big 12's leading long jumper extended her conference lead Friday. Ivy Walker sat in second the whole flight, and on her last leap landed a 20'-7" (6.27m) and just narrowly missed taking the lead. It was a PR, which bested her previous best by nearly four inches and placed her in the top-10 nationally. Tech remains one of four schools in the nation to hold a conference lead in one event (long jump) on both the men's and women's side.
As they have all season, Tech looked good on the straightaway, as both the men's and women's 60m runners dominated from the preliminaries all the way through to the finals. Tiffani Johnson turned in a near-PR 7.40 to win the prelims and advance comfortably into the semi-finals. She ran with Robyn Byrd, who won her heat as well with a 7.49. In the semis, Johnson picked up her PR with a 7.34, good for fourth-best in program history, while Byrd ran a PR 7.41. Byrd took second in the final with a 7.47, while Johnson opted not to run to rest and turn her focus to next weekend.
The men's 60m featured four Red Raiders – all of whom won their heats comfortably to advance to the semi-finals. Derrius Rodgers won the opening heat with a near-PR of 6.63 that tied him for sixth in program history. He was followed in heat two by freshman Keion Sutton, who ran a 6.79. Kesan Carter won his prelim heat for the second weekend in a row with a 6.86, and Joel Latson rounded out the prelims for Tech with a 6.91 to win his heat.
Rodgers again inserted his name into the Tech record books in the semis, running a 6.62 to tie for fourth in program history. He would be joined in the finals by Sutton (6.75) and Latson (6.82), who grabbed at-large spots. Like Johnson, Rodgers declined to run in the finals to rest.
Kaylor Harris took home the win in the 60m hurdles in her season debut. She took third in the prelims with an 8.72 before winning the semis with an 8.47. In the final, the sophomore tied her semi-final time of 8.47 to win it. Harris' performance elicits encouragement as she powered through three races after injury delayed the start of her season.
French freshman Axel Hubert made his long-awaited Texas Tech debut Friday night, competing in the men's 60m hurdles. The multis specialist ran an 8.11 to win his heat and qualify himself for the semi-finals. Hubert would go on to one-up himself in the semis, running an 8.04 to grab an at-large spot for the finals. Despite big PRs in his first two heats, Hubert elected to forego the finals to conserve energy for his long jump tomorrow.
In the throws department, Seasons Usual went over 18 meters for the third time in four weeks, this time tossing a 59'-5.5" (18.12m) to place second. Duke Kicinski finished third in the men's weight throw, tossing a 64'-1.75" (19.55m).
Saturday's action will be underway beginning at 11 a.m. with the women's shot put, men's pole vault and women's mile. Tickets may be purchased here.
The Big 12's leading long jumper extended her conference lead Friday. Ivy Walker sat in second the whole flight, and on her last leap landed a 20'-7" (6.27m) and just narrowly missed taking the lead. It was a PR, which bested her previous best by nearly four inches and placed her in the top-10 nationally. Tech remains one of four schools in the nation to hold a conference lead in one event (long jump) on both the men's and women's side.
As they have all season, Tech looked good on the straightaway, as both the men's and women's 60m runners dominated from the preliminaries all the way through to the finals. Tiffani Johnson turned in a near-PR 7.40 to win the prelims and advance comfortably into the semi-finals. She ran with Robyn Byrd, who won her heat as well with a 7.49. In the semis, Johnson picked up her PR with a 7.34, good for fourth-best in program history, while Byrd ran a PR 7.41. Byrd took second in the final with a 7.47, while Johnson opted not to run to rest and turn her focus to next weekend.
The men's 60m featured four Red Raiders – all of whom won their heats comfortably to advance to the semi-finals. Derrius Rodgers won the opening heat with a near-PR of 6.63 that tied him for sixth in program history. He was followed in heat two by freshman Keion Sutton, who ran a 6.79. Kesan Carter won his prelim heat for the second weekend in a row with a 6.86, and Joel Latson rounded out the prelims for Tech with a 6.91 to win his heat.
Rodgers again inserted his name into the Tech record books in the semis, running a 6.62 to tie for fourth in program history. He would be joined in the finals by Sutton (6.75) and Latson (6.82), who grabbed at-large spots. Like Johnson, Rodgers declined to run in the finals to rest.
Kaylor Harris took home the win in the 60m hurdles in her season debut. She took third in the prelims with an 8.72 before winning the semis with an 8.47. In the final, the sophomore tied her semi-final time of 8.47 to win it. Harris' performance elicits encouragement as she powered through three races after injury delayed the start of her season.
French freshman Axel Hubert made his long-awaited Texas Tech debut Friday night, competing in the men's 60m hurdles. The multis specialist ran an 8.11 to win his heat and qualify himself for the semi-finals. Hubert would go on to one-up himself in the semis, running an 8.04 to grab an at-large spot for the finals. Despite big PRs in his first two heats, Hubert elected to forego the finals to conserve energy for his long jump tomorrow.
In the throws department, Seasons Usual went over 18 meters for the third time in four weeks, this time tossing a 59'-5.5" (18.12m) to place second. Duke Kicinski finished third in the men's weight throw, tossing a 64'-1.75" (19.55m).
Saturday's action will be underway beginning at 11 a.m. with the women's shot put, men's pole vault and women's mile. Tickets may be purchased here.
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