The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Michael Johnson Invitational
Track & Field posts wins before weather halts meet
04.18.2015 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Longhorns perform well prior to storm in Waco
Complete Results | Post-Meet Notes
WACO, Texas – Texas Track and Field went into the Michael Johnson Classic on Saturday ready to face some elite competition, and the Longhorns came away with two wins and eight runner-up performances.
One event fans had highlighted in their heat sheets was the women's 400 meters with Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross up against the top runners from her alma mater. Texas junior Courtney Okolo got the win over her predecessor and sophomore Kendall Baisden finished second ahead of Richards-Ross as well.
The Longhorns got their other win from Clint Harris in the men's discus. It marked his first win of the season.
With five events remaining, a storm front moved in forcing a weather delay. Meet officials would later call off the remainder of the meet due to the inclement weather.
The evening heats of the 200 meters, women's 5,000 and the 4x400 meter relays were yet to be contested. The women's discus and pole vault as well as the men's triple jump were in competition at the time of the delay and eventual postponement.
Texas heads to the prestigious Penn Relays next week for three days of action. The longest running track meet in the nation, the Penn Relays traditionally brings in some of the top teams in the country and features a number of high school and professional athletes from Jamaica as well. FloTrack will provide live coverage of the meet. Subscribers to the site's FloPro services can watch the meet online.
Okolo Bests Richards-Ross
It was Texas past versus present in the women's 400 meters on Saturday and the crowd got a good show. Former Longhorns Sanya Richards-Ross and Briana Nelson were in the final heat along with current Longhorns Courtney Okolo and Kendall Baisden.
Okolo and Baisden proved Texas will continue to be a force in the 400 for years to come as they finished 1-2. Okolo crossed in 50.99 seconds pulling away on the home stretch. Baisden finished in 51.22 seconds.
Richards-Ross was third with a time of 51.49 seconds in her outdoor season debut. Nelson finished in 52.83 seconds.
The highlights in the 400 were not left to the women.
Carlton Anumnu made his career debut in the 400 meters and did not disappoint. The sophomore crossed the line in 46.71 seconds to win his heat and place third overall despite not being in one of the three faster heats in the evening schedule.
Courtney Okolo 50.99 Kendall Baisden 51.22 @SanyaRichiRoss 51.49 Briana Nelson 52.83 (6th) #HookEm #MJClassic15 pic.twitter.com/C4uPvo01Ji
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) April 18, 2015Men's Throwers Perform Well
Clint Harris tallied a win for the Longhorns, getting his first victory of the season in the discus. The senior threw 55.21 meters (181-2) to also improve on his season best. Will Spence was right behind him in second for the Longhorns with a mark of 54.66 meters (179-4).
Spence also finished second in the shot put with his result of 17.83 meters (58-6.00) to finish behind Nebraska's Will Lohman.
Fabian Dohmann came home with a runner-up finish in the javelin as well. He posted a throw of 66.63 meters (218-7). He finished behind Ioannis Kyriazis from Texas A&M.
Will Spence finishes 2nd in shot put with mark of 17.83m. #MJClassic15 #HookEm pic.twitter.com/dm5gaBFsZv
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) April 18, 2015Givans Runs with Nation's Best
The men's 100 meters was another loaded event at the Michael Johnson Classic as the field included 2014 NCAA champion Trayvon Bromell and 2013 champ Charles Silmon.
Senoj-Jay Givans took third place for the Longhorns in an exciting finish with his time of 10.15 seconds. Bromell won in 10.02 seconds and Texas A&M's Shavez Hart took second in 10.10.
Givans time was just .05 off his own school record. It also ranks as the No. 5 overall performance in UT history.
In the women's 100 meters, the trio of Caitland Smith, Shania Collins and Pamela Uchebo all ran personal bests. Smith finished third in 11.58 seconds.
Men's 100m was loaded. Baylor's Trayvon Bromell runs 10.02, A&M's Shavez Hart 10.10, UT's Senoj-Jay Givans 10.15. #MJClassic15 #HookEm
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) April 19, 2015Hurdlers Take Second Place
A trio of hurdlers all ran well for the Longhorns on Saturday as they all took runner-up in their respective events.
Morgan Snow ran 13.19 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles to finish behind Baylor's Tiffani McReynolds. Spencer Dunkerley-Offor was just off his season best at 13.80 seconds to finish runner-up in the 110 meter hurdles. And Ariel Jones also finished second in the 400 meter hurdles. She ran a PR of 58.03.
Women's Distance Shines in 1,500m
Texas had a large group of women run in the1,500 meters and five of the seven ran new personal bests.
Sandie Raines led the group with her time of 4:21.93 to finish in third and just miss her PR. Katie Burford took fifth with a new PR of 4:26.28. Mary Beth Hamilton, Alyssa Moody, Kendra Melendez and Marissa Pekarek also ran personal bests.
Francis Closing Career Strong
Senior Chamique Francis had her best day on the track Saturday. She posted personal bests in both events she ran and narrowly missed finishing in the top 10 in both as well.
Francis ran 55.35 to win her heat and finish 11th in the 400 meters. She then ran a PR time of 24.35 seconds in the 200 to take ninth place.
Players Mentioned
