The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Track & Field grabs 14 NCAA bids
03.02.2016 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Longhorns headed to NCAA Championships next week
NCAA Accepted Entries: Women | Men
AUSTIN, Texas – On Monday night the NCAA announced the accepted entry lists for the 2016 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships and the Texas Longhorns have 14 entries headed to Birmingham, Alabama, next week.
Texas got eight entries on the women's side and six for the men. Texas also ranks No. 1 in the field in four of those events.
Courtney Okolo leads the world in the 400 meters this year with a time of 51.06 at the Big 12 Championships last week. She also represents the anchor leg of the women's 4x400 relay that is No. 1 in the NCAA. The women's squad of Chrisann Gordon, Morolake Akinosun, Ariel Jones and Okolo ran 3:27.94 to win the Tyson Invitational this year and post the No. 4 time in collegiate history. Gordon also is qualified for the championship meet in the 400 meters, ranked No. 8 in the field.
Akinosun will run the 60 meters along with freshman Teahna Daniels. Daniels ranks sixth with a time of 7.23 seconds and Akinosun is right behind her at 7.24. Akinosun is qualified in the 200 meters as well.
Texas has two pole vaulters headed to Birmingham in 2014 NCAA champion Kaitlin Petrillose and sophomore Kally Long. Petrillose cleared 4.41 meters (14-4.50) to break her own Big 12 meet record and move up to No. 5 on the pole vault list heading into the championship meet. Long ranks 12th in the NCAA this season. The Longhorns are one of three schools to advance multiple pole vaulters to the women's championship competition, joining Arkansas and Washington.
On the men's side, the Longhorns are ranked No. 1 in two events.
Ryan Crouser tied the collegiate record at the Big 12 Championships with a toss of 21.73 meters (71-3.50). That puts him more than a full meter ahead of No. 2 on the NCAA list this season.
Zack Bilderback broke the Big 12 meet record in the 400 meters to climb atop the 2016 performance list with a time of 45.27. He is joined by two teammates in the event as the Longhorns hope to score big points in the 400 with AJ Bailey and Byron Robinson also qualifying. Bailey ranks No. 8 entering the meet and Robinson stands at 15th and is fresh off his school-record in the 600 yards at the Big 12 meet.
The trio of Bilderback, Bailey and Robinson is joined by Chris Irvin in the 4x400 relay. They shattered the school record at the Tyson Invitational for what was the No. 1 time in the NCAA this season up until last weekend's conference championship action. The Longhorns enter the final indoor meet of the season ranked No. 3. Less than half a second separates No. 1 from No. 4 in what is anticipated to be an exciting race in two weeks.
Senior Reese Watson is the other field event entry for the men's squad. He comes in ranked No. 11 with a clearance of 5.43 meters this year.
Last year both teams finished sixth at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The women are eyeing their first team title since 2006 and the Longhorn men have never won an NCAA team championship. With at least six entries on each side and multiple No. 1 rankings, the Longhorns will be among the favorites to win at the Birmingham CrossPlex next week.
The NCAA Indoor Championships are March 11-12. Fans can watch the action live online via espn3.com.
Players Mentioned
