Red Raiders Finish First Day in Austin

Thursday, March 28

Austin, Texas

Texas Tech Athletics

Texas Relays

Red Raiders Finish First Day in Austin

March 28, 2019 | Track and Field

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Tech medals once and qualifies one for finals on light first day.

By: Jeremy O'Brien

AUSTIN – Texas Tech concluded its first day of action at the Texas Relays Thursday in Austin. The small group of Red Raiders competing came away with one medal and a finals spot for another event.

Damajahnee Birch was the lone Red Raider to earn a spot in the finals Thursday after a huge personal best in the 400m hurdles. The junior ran a 58.95 to place second in her heat, which translated to fourth overall once the 10 sections of preliminaries concluded. The time, which was a full second PR, extended her lead on the rest of the Big 12 as well as moved her into the top-10 nationally.

WOMEN'S 400H | Birch advances!

Damajahnee's big PR earns her a spot in the finals of the 400m hurdles! She'll run for the win tomorrow at 7??. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/hgG2ObOJj8
— Texas Tech T&F/XC (@TexasTechTF) March 28, 2019

Werner Bouwer placed third in the javelin after topping at 225'-9" (68.80m). It was the junior's third throw that placed him in second going into the finals, but a 230'-2" (70.16m) from Penn's Marc Minichello – the eventual winner – knocked him back to third.

MEN'S JT | Bouwer earns ??

Werner's 225'-9" (68.80m) ends as his farthest of the day. The mark is good enough for third in a crowded top-four. #WreckEm
— Texas Tech T&F/XC (@TexasTechTF) March 28, 2019

Tech's distance crew was in action Thursday evening. The group was highlighted by Nokuthula Dlamini, whose 10:40.03 counted as an 18-second personal best two weeks after her win in the event at the Wes Kittley Invitational. Cornelius Kiprotich ran a 3:59.30 in the A section of the 1500m. The freshman was tripped two laps into a strong start, but he was able to claw back two spots to finish 10^th. Lauren Offerman ran in the B section of the 1500m, placing 11^thwith a 4:44.17.

Day two of the Texas Relays will get underway Friday with the discus at 9 a.m.

TECH OUT WEST
Seslia Dala ran the 10,000m at the San Francisco State Mike Fanelli Classic on Thursday evening. The junior placed fourth with a 35:15.49, which was good for a minute-and-a-half PR. It was her fifth career 10k and best time since medaling at the 2017 NJCAA Outdoor Championships.