Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Okoronkwo, Usoro Land on All-America First Team on Second Day in Eugene
June 10, 2021 | Track and Field
Texas Tech lands two on All-America First Team, plus one individual and a relay on Second Team.
Pushing the pole for the final time in her collegiate career, Chinne Okoronkwo became a First Team All-American. Okoronkwo, a First Teamer indoors in 2019 and Second Teamer outdoors that year, earned First Team honors outdoors for the first time in her career. She did so with a season-best clearance of 14'-1.25" (4.30m). Okoronkwo is the second Red Raider in history to finish top-eight at outdoor nationals since Shade Weygandt, who did so in 2010.
"I am really proud of Chinne's performance today," said coach Tom Slagle, whose now coached two women to First Team status outdoors. "She jumped a season best in tough conditions. She is always a gamer and brings her best effort to the big meets. I was proud of what she was able to accomplish in the last meet of her collegiate career."
A near-PR in her final meet, and it paid off.@ChinneOkoronkwo becomes an All-American in the pole vault for the third time to end her career ?? pic.twitter.com/j9AJCFpara
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) June 11, 2021
Ruth Usoro finished eighth in the long jump, marking her first time competing at a national meet outdoors at the Division I level. Usoro marked 20'-10.5" (6.36m). The mark came on her third jump and was what got her into the top-nine to make finals. Monae' Nichols earned Second Team All-America honors in the event, finishing 13th with her top jump of 20'-7.25" (6.28m). It is the third time in school history Tech has had two All-Americans at the outdoor title meet.
?? ???????? ???????????? ??@UsoroRuth5 earns First Team honors in her first outdoor nationals as a Red Raider. pic.twitter.com/HJ8MuWeyBG
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) June 11, 2021
Second Team status for Nichols ??
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) June 11, 2021
For the first time in her career, @monaealiyaaa is a Second Team All-American in the outdoor long jump. pic.twitter.com/5Cz8nM8gcR
The 4x100 relay finished its season with what came out to be the fastest time run by a Red Raider relay in nearly a decade. The foursome of Virginia Kerley, Kiah Dubarry-Gay, D'Jenne Egharevba and Peyton Ricks timed 43.91, making them the first school relay to dip below 44 seconds since 2012. The time was this group's second program top-10 time this season – the other coming at the NCAA West Preliminaries in 44.01 – and third by a Tech sprint relay this season. The 43.91 will go down as the third-fastest in school history.
"We went through a couple combinations on the 4x1 throughout the year and the girls responded well in the postseason," said assistant coach Calvin Robinson. "We just missed making the finals here at the national meet. You never want to be the first ones out, but I am proud of this group for the way they competed and executed today."
What a season by the 4x1 ??
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) June 10, 2021
?????????? program top-10 times, and this group ends with a ????.???? — the third-fastest in school history and fastest Tech relay in nearly a decade.
?? @peyton_rickss
?? @DDJenne
?? @virginia_kerley
?? @kiah_dg pic.twitter.com/YuGzoOiIgQ
The fourth Texas Tech 4x1 ???????? to dip below 4??4?? seconds.
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) June 10, 2021
?? 43.91 pic.twitter.com/xkZxWDMLjL
The 4x400 relay timed 3:37.10 to wrap their season. The veteran group was led off by Jadsia Warden, who handed off to Sara Limp. Limp went to Lexye Price, who typically serves as the anchor, while Amanda Crawford held fourth leg duties this meet. They are the eighth mile relay to run at nationals, all of which have done so under Kittley.
Live results will be available here. The meet will stream at various points on ESPNU and ESPN3. Click here for all the links to watch.
