Texas Tech University Athletics
Friday, May 10
Norman, Okla.
Texas Tech Athletics
at
Big 12 Outdoor Championships
Red Raiders Set Up Well After Strong First Day
May 10, 2019 | Track and Field
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Day one competitors set Texas Tech up for strong weekend after solid opening day in Norman.
NORMAN, Okla. – Texas Tech finished day one at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships with solid performances in the multis, throws, and distance to prime the Red Raiders for an explosive weekend.
Axel Hubert set himself up for a gold-medal Saturday with his decathlon performance Friday. The freshman was hot from the start, running a personal-best 11.09 in the 100m. Motivated by his quick start on the straightaway, the Parisian went for a lifetime best of 24'-1.75" (7.36m) to win the event and pick up a day-high 900 points.
"Axel got a mental boost by starting the chilly morning with two lifetime bests," said Associate Head Coach James Thomas. "Those first two events really set him up for what he did the rest of the day."
Hubert then advanced to the shot put ring, where he held the lead until the final round of throws at 46'-2.5" (14.08m) – good enough for second place. Though Hubert's high jump of 6'-0" (1.83m) resulted in 653 points – his lowest score of the day – it was plenty to keep him in the conversation for the lead and set him up for a 400m that could round his day out nicely. Such is just what Hubert did in the quarter-mile as he dipped below 50 seconds for the first time in his career, turning in a 49.99 to grab 815 points. The score brought his day total to 3,942 points and himself into a tie for the lead after the first five events.
Tiara Williams impressed in her Big 12 Outdoor Championships debut, totaling 3,143 points through the first four events of her heptathlon. Williams' top mark of the day was a 14.24 100m hurdle run that resulted in 945 points. She went on to reach a top clearance of 5'-2.25" (1.58m) in the high jump for 712 points. The junior's lowest-scoring event of the day was the shot put, where she earned 624 points, but she finished strong with a 25.27 in the 200m to pick up 862 more. Her day's total was good for fifth heading into Saturday's final three events.
"Axel and Tiara both had tremendous days," Thomas said. "Each combined events competition has its share of ups and downs, but when five of their nine events are PRs, I'll always consider it a success."
Tech's men's squad officially got on the board for the weekend thanks to Werner Bouwer, who repeated as the Big 12 runner-up in the javelin. Bouwer's top throw landed 222'-8" (67.88m) from his release, proving comfortable enough for the second-place finish. Hubert, using one throw as a warm-up for tomorrow's decathlon javelin, recorded a 191'-7" (58.40m) to place fifth and tack on four points.
The women also picked up their first points of the weekend on the lower throws field at Oklahoma's John Jacobs Field. The points – five in total – came in the hammer throw on the hard work by Dorleta Armendariz-Lasa and Seasons Usual. The former landed a throw at 176'-10" (53.91m) for a four-point fifth-place finish. Usual rounded out the scoring in eighth with a one-point mark of 164'-11" (50.26m).
More points came for the Lady Raiders thanks to their 10,000m representative, Seselia Dala. The junior began her race in the crisp evening air, but finished in pouring rain. Nevertheless, she ran a personal-best 35:13.08 – besting her previous mark by two seconds – to place sixth. The three points she added to the women's score brought their Friday total to eight.
Michael Benoit rounded out the night's competition, also in the 10,000m. The senior ran a 31:23.43 to place 14th.
The second day of action in Norman is set to begin right away Saturday morning with the multis. The decathlon will be the first event of the day, scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
Axel Hubert set himself up for a gold-medal Saturday with his decathlon performance Friday. The freshman was hot from the start, running a personal-best 11.09 in the 100m. Motivated by his quick start on the straightaway, the Parisian went for a lifetime best of 24'-1.75" (7.36m) to win the event and pick up a day-high 900 points.
"Axel got a mental boost by starting the chilly morning with two lifetime bests," said Associate Head Coach James Thomas. "Those first two events really set him up for what he did the rest of the day."
Hubert then advanced to the shot put ring, where he held the lead until the final round of throws at 46'-2.5" (14.08m) – good enough for second place. Though Hubert's high jump of 6'-0" (1.83m) resulted in 653 points – his lowest score of the day – it was plenty to keep him in the conversation for the lead and set him up for a 400m that could round his day out nicely. Such is just what Hubert did in the quarter-mile as he dipped below 50 seconds for the first time in his career, turning in a 49.99 to grab 815 points. The score brought his day total to 3,942 points and himself into a tie for the lead after the first five events.
"My first day... I'm in shape."
— Texas Tech T&F/XC (@TexasTechTF) May 10, 2019
??? The Big 12 indoor hep champ talks about his first day in Norman, where he sits tied for first in the dec!
??#WreckEm | #Big12TF?? pic.twitter.com/U5bb3BJRBz
Tiara Williams impressed in her Big 12 Outdoor Championships debut, totaling 3,143 points through the first four events of her heptathlon. Williams' top mark of the day was a 14.24 100m hurdle run that resulted in 945 points. She went on to reach a top clearance of 5'-2.25" (1.58m) in the high jump for 712 points. The junior's lowest-scoring event of the day was the shot put, where she earned 624 points, but she finished strong with a 25.27 in the 200m to pick up 862 more. Her day's total was good for fifth heading into Saturday's final three events.
Big first day for Williams! ??@justthatgreat__ racks up 3??1??4??3?? points in her Big 12 heptathlon debut, good enough for fifth on the leaderboard!
— Texas Tech T&F/XC (@TexasTechTF) May 10, 2019
??#WreckEm | #Big12TF?? pic.twitter.com/AQwGqnWThk
"Axel and Tiara both had tremendous days," Thomas said. "Each combined events competition has its share of ups and downs, but when five of their nine events are PRs, I'll always consider it a success."
Tech's men's squad officially got on the board for the weekend thanks to Werner Bouwer, who repeated as the Big 12 runner-up in the javelin. Bouwer's top throw landed 222'-8" (67.88m) from his release, proving comfortable enough for the second-place finish. Hubert, using one throw as a warm-up for tomorrow's decathlon javelin, recorded a 191'-7" (58.40m) to place fifth and tack on four points.
The women also picked up their first points of the weekend on the lower throws field at Oklahoma's John Jacobs Field. The points – five in total – came in the hammer throw on the hard work by Dorleta Armendariz-Lasa and Seasons Usual. The former landed a throw at 176'-10" (53.91m) for a four-point fifth-place finish. Usual rounded out the scoring in eighth with a one-point mark of 164'-11" (50.26m).
Check out our first podium guns of the weekend! ??
— Texas Tech T&F/XC (@TexasTechTF) May 10, 2019
??#WreckEm | #Big12TF?? pic.twitter.com/RzImlvWwlJ
More points came for the Lady Raiders thanks to their 10,000m representative, Seselia Dala. The junior began her race in the crisp evening air, but finished in pouring rain. Nevertheless, she ran a personal-best 35:13.08 – besting her previous mark by two seconds – to place sixth. The three points she added to the women's score brought their Friday total to eight.
WOMEN'S 10,000 | More points for Tech!
— Texas Tech T&F/XC (@TexasTechTF) May 11, 2019
Seselia Dala PRs by ?? seconds at 35:13.08 to finish sixth and pick up 3?? more points for the women!
??#WreckEm | #Big12TF?? pic.twitter.com/93sl2IUswB
Michael Benoit rounded out the night's competition, also in the 10,000m. The senior ran a 31:23.43 to place 14th.
The second day of action in Norman is set to begin right away Saturday morning with the multis. The decathlon will be the first event of the day, scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Javelin
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Combined Events
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Combined Events
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