Texas Tech University Athletics
Saturday, July 27
Des Moines, Iowa
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at
USA National Championships
Grimes Breaks Own School Record in Hurdles Final
July 27, 2019 | Track and Field
National runner-up turns in career-best in final of quarter-hurdles.
DES MOINES, Iowa – Texas Tech hurdler Norman Grimes Jr. turned in the best performance of his career – and program history – Saturday to put himself in position to potentially earn himself a spot on Team USA for the World Championships this fall.
After grinding through two rounds of the 400m hurdles over the past two days, Grimes ran a PR 48.68 to place fourth in a stacked final. After going 50.20 in Thursday's first round race, he dropped sub-50 for the sixth time this season in the semi-final. His 48.68 Saturday was the second time the sophomore has gone sub-49 in his collegiate career. The other mark, his previous personal best, was a 48.71 that earned him the silver medal at June's NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"If you can come out and PR in July, that's huge," said assistant coach Calvin Robinson. "That's impressive after a long collegiate season."
Robinson also noted Grimes' impressive job handling three rounds in three days, saying, "He came here and handled each round like a veteran. He went a second faster every round."
The other highlight on the track came via Andrew Hudson, who advanced in the 200m. The First Team All-American ran a 20.73 to get into the semi-final with an at-large bid. He will run the semi-final Sunday at 5 p.m.
"This meet is just about going out and beating people," Robinson said. "AJ got a tough lane assignment in lane one, but everybody has to run the same distance and he went out and earned a spot in the semis. Nobody will be messing around tomorrow. It'll be exciting."
High jumper Zarriea Willis placed ninth. The defending NCAA Champion cleared 6'-0" (1.83m) as her top height.
Two field competitors competed for the Red Raiders as well Saturday. Brandon Bray, who in June set the new school record in the pole vault after clearing 18'-8.25" (5.70m). In Des Moines, however, Bray recorded a no-height after going out at the opening height of 17'-11" (5.46m).
After grinding through two rounds of the 400m hurdles over the past two days, Grimes ran a PR 48.68 to place fourth in a stacked final. After going 50.20 in Thursday's first round race, he dropped sub-50 for the sixth time this season in the semi-final. His 48.68 Saturday was the second time the sophomore has gone sub-49 in his collegiate career. The other mark, his previous personal best, was a 48.71 that earned him the silver medal at June's NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"If you can come out and PR in July, that's huge," said assistant coach Calvin Robinson. "That's impressive after a long collegiate season."
Robinson also noted Grimes' impressive job handling three rounds in three days, saying, "He came here and handled each round like a veteran. He went a second faster every round."
?? Big PR for Norman! ??@normangrimesjr takes fourth in the final of the quarter hurdles! He goes for a career-best 48.68! ??
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) July 27, 2019
??#WreckEm??
The other highlight on the track came via Andrew Hudson, who advanced in the 200m. The First Team All-American ran a 20.73 to get into the semi-final with an at-large bid. He will run the semi-final Sunday at 5 p.m.
"This meet is just about going out and beating people," Robinson said. "AJ got a tough lane assignment in lane one, but everybody has to run the same distance and he went out and earned a spot in the semis. Nobody will be messing around tomorrow. It'll be exciting."
AJ goes through in the 200! ??
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) July 27, 2019
A 20.73 gets @_imightsprint through to the semi-finals on time!
He'll go for a spot in the finals tomorrow at 5 p.m.!
??#WreckEm??
High jumper Zarriea Willis placed ninth. The defending NCAA Champion cleared 6'-0" (1.83m) as her top height.
Two field competitors competed for the Red Raiders as well Saturday. Brandon Bray, who in June set the new school record in the pole vault after clearing 18'-8.25" (5.70m). In Des Moines, however, Bray recorded a no-height after going out at the opening height of 17'-11" (5.46m).
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
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Sprints/Hurdles
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Sprints
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