A typical day for a spring season track and field meet, quickly turned into an afternoon of cool-wind torture. Temperatures reached 70 degrees by noon the winds picked up, and the chill dipped down to 61 after a light shower past through the area.
However, the bad weather had no bearing on over 7,000 athletes who showed up for the 92nd Running of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Michael A. Myers Stadium on the final Saturday of competition.
Steaming from last season’s finals, it was clear The University of Houston and LSU Men arrived on the UT campus to impose its will.
Soon after the National Anthem, the battle began with the first race of the finals. From the opening leg of the 4×100 Meter Relay, the Cougars raced neck to neck with LSU until its third leg Brandon Taylor gave the Cougars a small cushion. The lead faded quickly as Tigers anchor leg Jaron Flournoy closed in on Travis Collins and edged him at the finish line. The first-place finish avenged last season’s defeat to the Cougars, who set the record in the 4X100 Meter Relay (38.17) in the College Championships.
However, the Cougars would return the favor in 4×200 Meter Relay. Nicholas Alexander, Mario Burke, Kahmari Montgomery, and Obi Igbokwe ran four sturdy legs and led the race from start to finish. But again Tigers anchor leg Flournoy closed in, nearly making up the stagger but it wasn’t to be as Igbokwe held on, leading Houston to victory. Also, the Cougars finished second in the Men’s 4X400 Invitational Meter Relay (3:07.37).
Houston’s Taylor ran to a third-place finish in the Men’s 100 Meter Dash (10.18).
Another LSU, Houston battle watched Cougars Amere Lattin (13.40) edge Damien Thomas (13.62) in the Men’s 110 Hurdles.
In section A of the Men’s High Jump, LSU’s JuVaughn Harrison finish second with a jump of 7-3 1/4.
During the moment, the Lady Tigerettes were busy battling The University of Texas and the rest of a talented field at the meet.
In other spectacular finishes, Tigerettes sprinter Sha”Carri Richardson, a product of Dallas Carter high school won the 100 Meter Dash (10.91) out-dueling UT’s standout Kynnedy Flannel (11.16) an Alvin high school graduate, and anchored LSU to a stunning first-place finish in the 4×100 Meter Relay (43.58). Richardson, who had trouble with the baton exchange, tracked down Arkansas’ anchor leg, who appeared to have taken off too soon before receiving the baton exchange.
The future looks bright for LSU and Texas. Flannel and Richardson are freshmen.
LSU’s Tonea Marshall claimed the women 100 hurdles (12.96). Marshall looked to have come out of her lane as she cleared the last hurdle but later it was revealed second-place finisher Arkansas’ Janeek Brown who raced side by Marshall, trail leg clipped the last hurdler, causing her to take a spill and a finish a second later (12.97).
Sam Houston State’s Chris Jefferson followed up his 200 Meter Dash win last week at the Victor Lopez Classic by defending Nike’s Anaso Jobodwana in the Men’s Invitational 200 Meter Dash (20.52) opposed to (20.68).
Texas came away with a pair of key wins. In the Men’s Jerry Thomas Mile Invitational, Sam Worley separated himself from a crowded pack to claim the crown in a time of (4:04.59) and Teahna Daniels, competing in the women invitational, won the 200 Meter Dash (23.29). Teammates Serenity Douglas (23.71) and Kennedy Simon (23.79) placed third and fourth.
Destiny Collins placed third in the Women’s Section A 1500 Meter Run (4:23.09). Adrian Piperi finished the Shot Put with a throw of 67-2 3/4 and the silver. The Lady Longhorns claimed third place in 4X400 Meter Relay (3:35.24).
UT’s men (40.06) and women (43.93) 4X100 Meter Relay team’s competed in the invitational bracket. Both came away with third-place finishes. Elena Bruckner grabbed bronze in the women’s discus.
Texas A&M Men and Baylor Lady Bears took the men’s and women’s 4X800 Relays. A&M Men doubled its winning by defeating LSU in the 4X400 Meter Relay (3:03.30). The Lady Aggies finished first in the 200 Meter Relay (1:31.88) and the 4X400 Meter Relay (3:32.93). Houston Lady Cougars placed second (1:34.58).
For a list of results, visit relays.texassports.com.
