Keys takes second overall in decathlon Saturday

Saturday, May 13

Norman, OK

TBA

Texas Tech Athletics

Big 12 Outdoor Championships

Keys takes second overall in decathlon Saturday

May 13, 2023 | Track and Field

Results

Keys completed his first full decathlon with Tech Saturday afternoon

By: Chris Duarte

NORMAN, Okla.– Joe Keys put on a gritty performance Saturday afternoon in the decathlon scoring 7,697 points as he finished second overall. That score goes into the Tech record book as No. 2 all-time.

Team Scores Men (8 of 21 scored)

OU – 55
Kansas – 51
Iowa State – 47
Texas – 42.5
OSU – 42
Texas Tech – 30.5
KSU – 27
Baylor – 17

Team Scores Women (8 of 21 scored)

OU – 75
Iowa State– 49
Texas – 44
Kansas State – 38
OSU – 34
TCU – 19
Kansas– 18
Texas Tech – 17
WVU – 16
Baylor – 2

Keys entered the final day in 7^th place before finishing in the top-3 of the remaining five events, including a 1^st place outing in the discus. From there, he finished 2^nd in the pole vault and javelin before finishing his day 3^rd in the 1500, running a 4:31.24, scoring 736 points. That run was crucial as he surpassed Kansas' Alexander Jung by just six points. The point total for Keys becomes a new PB and gives the grad transfer a spot into the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The sum currently puts Keys 12^th in the country as the top-24 in the NCAA qualify to the meet after this weekend.

WE GOT THE KEYS KEYS!!!

Joe runs a 4:31.24 in the 1500 to close out the decathlon, moving up one spot to 2ND scoring 7,697 (PB) points!!!!

The point total is No. 2 in Tech history ?? pic.twitter.com/zJMPgpimns
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) May 13, 2023

In the men's high jump, Kaithon McDonald finished third with a height of 2.11m (6-11). Caleb Wilborn finished 4^th at the same height (more misses) as Omamuyovwi Erhire placed 6^th at 2.06m (6-9).

Meanwhile, on the track, the TTU men booked 14 finals lanes for Sunday while the women filled 12 lanes. In the men's 100m alone, five Red Raiders booked a finals lane, led by Courtney Lindsey with the best qualifying time of 10.17 (0.6).

For the women, Rosemary Chukwuma and Serena Clark. Each qualified for the 100m and 200m Sunday. In the women's 110 hurdles, three Red Raiders moved on – Demisha Roswell, Naomi Krebs and Simone Watkins.

Field Gatlin led the way for the women in the shot put coming away in 4^th with her first throw being her best mark at 16.44m (53-11.25), a new PB. Malin Smith finished two spots behind her in 6^th at 16.18m (53-1).

The final scored event of the evening was the women's pole vault, which was moved indoors due to inclement weather. Ryleigh Redding paced the way finishing 3^rd at a height of 4.05m (13-3.50. Sarah Tackitt and Olivia Cade rounded out the top-8 finishing 7^th and 8^th, respectively at a height of 3.90m (12-9.50).

Women's pole vault final (moved indoors)@RyleighRedding finishes 3rd with a height of 4.05m (13-3.50)!! pic.twitter.com/cvPGA5GNOI
— Texas Tech Track & Field (@TexasTechTF) May 14, 2023

Up Next
The final day of the competition will begin at 12 pm on Sunday – it has been moved up from 2:30 in hopes of avoiding inclement weather again. A full schedule by the Big 12 will be released later tonight.