Texas Tech University Athletics
Outdoor Season Heats Up at Texas Relays
March 24, 2021 | Track and Field
Red Raiders ready for big meet in Austin.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Outdoor season is set to heat up as Texas Tech heads to Austin for the Texas Relays. After most of the squad opened the season at Abilene Christian's Wes Kittley Invitational last weekend, this week's meet is Tech's annual opportunity to really get the season going as well as to open up its nationals athletes who rested after the NCAA Indoor Championships.
"This is going to be the first true test to see where we are," said head coach Wes Kittley. "This meet is going to give some people some competition that's really tough. You're going to see about half the country at this meet. I'm looking forward to seeing how our kids react to that."
"You're going to have to be on your game here [in Austin]," Kittley continued. "Especially if you're a field event person where you only get three jumps or throws. That's the way it's going to be at regionals, so I like that pressure we're going to be able to add at this meet."
While pressure exists and expectations are high at such an elite meet, Kittley maintains top performances should not be forced this early in the season.
"This week has the 'prestige' of the Texas Relays," he said. "But it's so early. People get carried away trying to impress everyone so early. I'm being careful with this meet. If you remember, in 2019 when we won the national championship, we looked kind of okay until Baylor's Michael Johnson Invitational in mid-April. That meet was when it all started to come around. I'd be concerned if we get there again and aren't looking good, but until then it's about being patient and letting everyone get into the race shape we know they can be in. I'm not negative at all – we just need to race more and get back into that war. This weekend will be a great time to do that."
NCAA Indoor triple jump champion Ruth Usoro will compete outdoors in a Tech uniform for the first time. Usoro, now a four-time All-American in the horizontal jumps, rested last week after coming from behind to win the national title on her final jump in Fayetteville. Tripling alongside her will be Chinne Okoronkwo. Additionally, the weekend will mark Okoronkwo's first pole vault competition outdoors since winning the Big 12 Championship in 2019.
One large focus for Kittley's team will be the relays. The Red Raiders will enter Austin seeking regional qualifying marks for both the men and women. While the women's sprint relay is still being constructed, Tech's men's 4x100 relay will largely be the same as last week's lineup. The foursome, led off by Keion Sutton, posted a strong 39.8 with freshman Daniel Omah on the second leg and senior long jumper Justin Hall anchoring. Kittley's focus has thus shifted to putting together a 4x400 that can run sub-3:08.
Kittley spoke of leading the mile relay off with Chancellor Stephenson, who will hand to Karayme Bartley followed by Ryan Champlin. Anchoring responsibilities will land on the plate of Big 12 600y champion Sven Cepus. The women's lineup will consist of a hungry group that has waited since 2019 to step on an outdoor track in a Tech uniform. Seniors Jadsia Warden and Sara Limp will begin before transfer Kiara Lester and senior Amanda Crawford take over the back half. Lexye Price, who posted a two-second PR in the 400H last week, is an option as well depending on how the quarter-hurdles go for her this weekend.
All-American DMR legs Cepus and Marco Vilca will go after good regional marks in the 800m. The pair will run in the fast section on what is projected to be an 80-degree day with light wind Saturday.
Elsewhere, in the throws, Big 12 weight throw champions Gabe Oladipo and Seasons Usual will get another week of discus under their belts. All-American and school record-holder Werner Bouwer will compete in the javelin again after seeing his first action in any meet since 2019 last weekend in Abilene.
The Texas Relays will open Thursday and run through Sunday. It will be streamed on Longhorn Network.
"This is going to be the first true test to see where we are," said head coach Wes Kittley. "This meet is going to give some people some competition that's really tough. You're going to see about half the country at this meet. I'm looking forward to seeing how our kids react to that."
"You're going to have to be on your game here [in Austin]," Kittley continued. "Especially if you're a field event person where you only get three jumps or throws. That's the way it's going to be at regionals, so I like that pressure we're going to be able to add at this meet."
While pressure exists and expectations are high at such an elite meet, Kittley maintains top performances should not be forced this early in the season.
"This week has the 'prestige' of the Texas Relays," he said. "But it's so early. People get carried away trying to impress everyone so early. I'm being careful with this meet. If you remember, in 2019 when we won the national championship, we looked kind of okay until Baylor's Michael Johnson Invitational in mid-April. That meet was when it all started to come around. I'd be concerned if we get there again and aren't looking good, but until then it's about being patient and letting everyone get into the race shape we know they can be in. I'm not negative at all – we just need to race more and get back into that war. This weekend will be a great time to do that."
NCAA Indoor triple jump champion Ruth Usoro will compete outdoors in a Tech uniform for the first time. Usoro, now a four-time All-American in the horizontal jumps, rested last week after coming from behind to win the national title on her final jump in Fayetteville. Tripling alongside her will be Chinne Okoronkwo. Additionally, the weekend will mark Okoronkwo's first pole vault competition outdoors since winning the Big 12 Championship in 2019.
One large focus for Kittley's team will be the relays. The Red Raiders will enter Austin seeking regional qualifying marks for both the men and women. While the women's sprint relay is still being constructed, Tech's men's 4x100 relay will largely be the same as last week's lineup. The foursome, led off by Keion Sutton, posted a strong 39.8 with freshman Daniel Omah on the second leg and senior long jumper Justin Hall anchoring. Kittley's focus has thus shifted to putting together a 4x400 that can run sub-3:08.
Kittley spoke of leading the mile relay off with Chancellor Stephenson, who will hand to Karayme Bartley followed by Ryan Champlin. Anchoring responsibilities will land on the plate of Big 12 600y champion Sven Cepus. The women's lineup will consist of a hungry group that has waited since 2019 to step on an outdoor track in a Tech uniform. Seniors Jadsia Warden and Sara Limp will begin before transfer Kiara Lester and senior Amanda Crawford take over the back half. Lexye Price, who posted a two-second PR in the 400H last week, is an option as well depending on how the quarter-hurdles go for her this weekend.
All-American DMR legs Cepus and Marco Vilca will go after good regional marks in the 800m. The pair will run in the fast section on what is projected to be an 80-degree day with light wind Saturday.
Elsewhere, in the throws, Big 12 weight throw champions Gabe Oladipo and Seasons Usual will get another week of discus under their belts. All-American and school record-holder Werner Bouwer will compete in the javelin again after seeing his first action in any meet since 2019 last weekend in Abilene.
The Texas Relays will open Thursday and run through Sunday. It will be streamed on Longhorn Network.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Middle Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps/Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid. Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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Wes Kittley Media Availability (NCAA Indoors)
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Friday, March 06