Texas Tech University Athletics
Friday, March 12
Fayetteville, Ark.
11:00 A.M.
Texas Tech Athletics
vs
NCAA Indoor Championships
Four First-Time Scorers Highlight Friday’s Action
March 12, 2021 | Track and Field
Nine Red Raiders named All-Americans on first full day of action.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Texas Tech saw nine Red Raiders earn All-America status for the first time in their careers Friday.
Ruth Usoro and Monae' Nichols became First Team All-Americans for the first time in their careers Friday evening. The duo scored in the long jump. Usoro, breaker of multiple school records in the event, landed her best jump of the night on her very first attempt. The third-best in school history, the distance of 21'-8.75" (6.62m) would carry her into the final in second place. Nichols had to work after fouling her first attempt, but a mark of 20'-10.75" (6.37m) on her second attempt would buy her three more jumps. With a spot in the final, Nichols would land one at 21'-3.5" (6.49m) to slide into sixth place, where she would remain. Usoro finished in fifth. Usoro will also compete in Saturday's triple jump competition.
Jalen Seals came from behind on two occasions to achieve All-American status for the first time in his career. Sitting outside of finals position going into his third jump, he landed one at 25'-1.75" (7.66m). It was his second 25-foot jump of the season and third of his career. The distance bought him three more jumps, and he would make the most of the opportunity. Sitting ninth with one attempt remaining, he again came through with the best jump of his career: 25'-4.75" (7.74m). The mark moved him into eighth and would make him a First Team All-American.
Kayli Johnson, a graduate transfer like Seals, also earned hardware for the first time in her career. Johnson landed a shot put 54'-2.75" (16.53m) from the ring on her first attempt. It would carry her into the finals in ninth place. Her first attempt there would result in a career-best mark of 55'-8.5" (16.98m), moving her into eighth and securing All-American status for Johnson.
In Tech's lone individual track event of the meet – the 800m – Takieddine Hedeilli earned a lane for the title race and Marco Vilca PR'd. Hedeilli ran 1:48.07 in a fast first heat that produced all four of the top times of the semi-final. Also competing in his first NCAA meet, Vilca ran a lifetime-best 1:48.66. While it was the eighth-best time of the day, Vilca was a victim of running in the quicker heat; ninth-place Kieran Taylor of Arkansas claimed the last lane in the finals with an auto bid with his third-place finish in the second race.
The other running event where Tech was represented was the distance medley relay. The Red Raider DMR, which qualified after running a school-record 9:36.72 at the Matador Qualifier, ran 9:38.89 Friday to finish 10th. It was a fast and physical final. Freshman Paul Sherrill opened in the 1200m leg before handing off to Chancellor Stephenson in the 400m portion. Stephenson split 46.69, then passed to Sven Cepus who ran the 800m in 1:49.02. Owen Likins anchored an incredibly fast mile in which all but one team ran sub-4:05. Likins clocked 4:03.32 to finish the relay.
Jack Scarborough finished 13th in the first NCAA high jump competition of his career. Scarborough got on the board with the opening height of 6'-9.75" (2.08m), then cleared 6'-11.75" (2.13m). He would go out attempting what would have been a lifetime best of 7'-1.75" (2.18m). Though he would not score, Scarborough leaves Fayetteville with his first clearance at a national title meet.
Saturday's action involving the Red Raiders will begin at 1 p.m. with Seals and the triple jump.
Ruth Usoro and Monae' Nichols became First Team All-Americans for the first time in their careers Friday evening. The duo scored in the long jump. Usoro, breaker of multiple school records in the event, landed her best jump of the night on her very first attempt. The third-best in school history, the distance of 21'-8.75" (6.62m) would carry her into the final in second place. Nichols had to work after fouling her first attempt, but a mark of 20'-10.75" (6.37m) on her second attempt would buy her three more jumps. With a spot in the final, Nichols would land one at 21'-3.5" (6.49m) to slide into sixth place, where she would remain. Usoro finished in fifth. Usoro will also compete in Saturday's triple jump competition.
???????????? ????.@UsoroRuth5 ?? @monaealiyaaa pic.twitter.com/3c6vKXRQfo
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) March 13, 2021
Jalen Seals came from behind on two occasions to achieve All-American status for the first time in his career. Sitting outside of finals position going into his third jump, he landed one at 25'-1.75" (7.66m). It was his second 25-foot jump of the season and third of his career. The distance bought him three more jumps, and he would make the most of the opportunity. Sitting ninth with one attempt remaining, he again came through with the best jump of his career: 25'-4.75" (7.74m). The mark moved him into eighth and would make him a First Team All-American.
?????? ???? ???????????????? ? ??????-????????????????
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) March 12, 2021
A year of firsts for @J_Seals21. pic.twitter.com/RQnlASryyU
Kayli Johnson, a graduate transfer like Seals, also earned hardware for the first time in her career. Johnson landed a shot put 54'-2.75" (16.53m) from the ring on her first attempt. It would carry her into the finals in ninth place. Her first attempt there would result in a career-best mark of 55'-8.5" (16.98m), moving her into eighth and securing All-American status for Johnson.
Kayli Johnson transferred to Texas Tech — moving across the country from her home state of Michigan — to realize her full potential.
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) March 12, 2021
Today, she became an All-American for the first time in her career.
?? @_kayliij pic.twitter.com/JrPkWDlvCP
In Tech's lone individual track event of the meet – the 800m – Takieddine Hedeilli earned a lane for the title race and Marco Vilca PR'd. Hedeilli ran 1:48.07 in a fast first heat that produced all four of the top times of the semi-final. Also competing in his first NCAA meet, Vilca ran a lifetime-best 1:48.66. While it was the eighth-best time of the day, Vilca was a victim of running in the quicker heat; ninth-place Kieran Taylor of Arkansas claimed the last lane in the finals with an auto bid with his third-place finish in the second race.
The other running event where Tech was represented was the distance medley relay. The Red Raider DMR, which qualified after running a school-record 9:36.72 at the Matador Qualifier, ran 9:38.89 Friday to finish 10th. It was a fast and physical final. Freshman Paul Sherrill opened in the 1200m leg before handing off to Chancellor Stephenson in the 400m portion. Stephenson split 46.69, then passed to Sven Cepus who ran the 800m in 1:49.02. Owen Likins anchored an incredibly fast mile in which all but one team ran sub-4:05. Likins clocked 4:03.32 to finish the relay.
DMR earns Second Team ??
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) March 12, 2021
The relay runs shy of a school record at 9:38.89 to place 10th in a packed and physical field.
?? @PaulSherrill12
?? @chance_step
?? @ceps800
?? @OwenLikins pic.twitter.com/mElsWrp7lR
Jack Scarborough finished 13th in the first NCAA high jump competition of his career. Scarborough got on the board with the opening height of 6'-9.75" (2.08m), then cleared 6'-11.75" (2.13m). He would go out attempting what would have been a lifetime best of 7'-1.75" (2.18m). Though he would not score, Scarborough leaves Fayetteville with his first clearance at a national title meet.
??????-???????????????? ? @jackscarb2
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) March 12, 2021
Scarborough tops at 6'-11.75" (2.13m) at the first NCAA meet of his career ?? pic.twitter.com/jbtXB58ABe
Saturday's action involving the Red Raiders will begin at 1 p.m. with Seals and the triple jump.
Players Mentioned
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