Texas Tech University Athletics
Friday, April 16
Waco, Texas
12:00 P.M.
Texas Tech Athletics
at
Michael Johnson Invitational
Tech Gets Michael Johnson Underway
April 16, 2021 | Track and Field
Red Raiders in action in Waco.
WACO, Texas – Texas Tech opened the Michael Johnson Invitational Friday with a hammer throw and pole vault career best.
Gabe Oladipo continued to progress in the hammer throw. The senior, who had never done the event until this season, landed his top throw at 203'-0.25" (61.88m) to place fourth. The PR comes after marking 199'-6" (60.82m) at last week's home opener. He moves up to fifth in the Big 12 with the mark.
Seasons Usual finished fourth in the women's hammer. She did so with a top throw of 179'-10" (54.81m).
Callie Jones placed third in the javelin with her second-best throw of the season. Jones' top throw landed 156 feet even (47.55m) from the runway. It was the multis athlete's third time throwing the javelin – her best event – this year. Jones' top throw came at the Texas Relays. At 160'-6" (48.92m), it ranks her second in the Big 12.
Anna Cathryn Griffith picked up her first collegiate win in the open pole vault. Griffith cleared up to 12'-4" (3.76m) to find herself one of just two in the finals alongside Abilene Christian's Mackenzie Knight. Griffith bore down and cleared the first jump-off height of 12'-6" (3.81m) on her very first attempt, while Knight could not get over the bar. The height was also a new personal best for Griffith.
Kyle Stifflemire also had a breakout in the pole vault. Stifflemire, who was down to his last jump early on, dialed in and worked all the way up to an outdoor career-best 16'-3.25" (4.96m). It is the third time in his career he has cleared 16 feet and first time doing it outdoors. The other two 16-foot clearances came during the 2020 indoor season, including his lifetime best of 16'-5.25" (5.01m).
Owen Likins led a Tech foursome of distance runners running the 1500m Friday. The indoor All-American cut down his season best by three seconds to time 3:52.50 in the race's top heat. TJ Gregg won his heat with a team second-best time of 3:58.15.
The second and final day of the Michael Johnson Invitational will get underway Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Live results will be available here.
Gabe Oladipo continued to progress in the hammer throw. The senior, who had never done the event until this season, landed his top throw at 203'-0.25" (61.88m) to place fourth. The PR comes after marking 199'-6" (60.82m) at last week's home opener. He moves up to fifth in the Big 12 with the mark.
Progress in the hammer ??
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) April 16, 2021
Another PR in @ShowtimeGeee's first season throwing the hammer.
? 203'-0.35" (61.88m) pic.twitter.com/NVygIzUnMC
Seasons Usual finished fourth in the women's hammer. She did so with a top throw of 179'-10" (54.81m).
Callie Jones placed third in the javelin with her second-best throw of the season. Jones' top throw landed 156 feet even (47.55m) from the runway. It was the multis athlete's third time throwing the javelin – her best event – this year. Jones' top throw came at the Texas Relays. At 160'-6" (48.92m), it ranks her second in the Big 12.
Jones takes ??@_calliewallie_'s second-best jav of the season lands at 156' (47.55m) and nets her third place. pic.twitter.com/q7SxNrJS9p
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) April 17, 2021
Anna Cathryn Griffith picked up her first collegiate win in the open pole vault. Griffith cleared up to 12'-4" (3.76m) to find herself one of just two in the finals alongside Abilene Christian's Mackenzie Knight. Griffith bore down and cleared the first jump-off height of 12'-6" (3.81m) on her very first attempt, while Knight could not get over the bar. The height was also a new personal best for Griffith.
First win for Griffith ??@Anna_Cathryn_ gets her first collegiate W in the pole vault, PR'ing in a jump-off to win!
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) April 16, 2021
? 12'-6" (3.81m) pic.twitter.com/rZnxpR0ocu
Kyle Stifflemire also had a breakout in the pole vault. Stifflemire, who was down to his last jump early on, dialed in and worked all the way up to an outdoor career-best 16'-3.25" (4.96m). It is the third time in his career he has cleared 16 feet and first time doing it outdoors. The other two 16-foot clearances came during the 2020 indoor season, including his lifetime best of 16'-5.25" (5.01m).
We have been waiting so long to use this GIF. @stiff_kyle's outdoor PR today just gave us a reason to ?? pic.twitter.com/bl1rXJwFRo
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) April 17, 2021
Owen Likins led a Tech foursome of distance runners running the 1500m Friday. The indoor All-American cut down his season best by three seconds to time 3:52.50 in the race's top heat. TJ Gregg won his heat with a team second-best time of 3:58.15.
The second and final day of the Michael Johnson Invitational will get underway Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Live results will be available here.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Multis
/ Track and Field
XC/Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
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