The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Outdoor Championships
4x100m Relay shatters school record in NCAA semifinals
06.07.2017 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Longhorns open NCAA Championships with bang
NCAA Championships
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TV on Thursday: 6:30 pm CT ESPN2
EUGENE, Oregon – Texas Men's Track & Field opened the NCAA Championships with a school record to set the tone on Day 1 from Hayward Field.
In the first semifinal of the running events, the Longhorns shattered the previous school record in the 4x100 meter relay, clocking in at 38.68 seconds. That time gave the team of all seniors, Carlton Anumnu, Aldrich Bailey Jr., Charles Anumnu and Senoj-Jay Givans the No. 3 time in the semifinals and bested the previous school record of 39.08.
"Those four men have wanted that record for a few years now," said Assistant Coach Zach Glavash. "They had been so close on many occasions and finally lined it up and broke it almost half a second.
"They have worked extremely hard and I am proud that they etched their name in the records at Texas. There is still business to take care on but they deserved that record."
That run from the 4x100 came after two Longhorns had already started their day in the decathlon in good fashion as Steele Wasik and Wolf Mahler positioned themselves well in the standings heading into the final five events on Thursday.
Wasik sits in 12th place after the first five events with 4,006 points, and he registered personal records in two of the events. Mahler is 14th with 3,955 points and claimed a new PR in the shot put.
"I was proud of the decathletes and the way they fought," said Head Coach Mario Sategna. "Other than the high jump Steele had a great day. Wolf has been off since April with an injury and he's a gamer. One thing about Wolf is he's always going to give you his very best."
Texas had two Longhorns competing in field events on the men's first day at the NCAA Championships but neither was able to make their way to the podium and score points for the team.
Freshman O'Brien Wasome finished in 10th place with a mark of 7.58 meters (24-10.50) in the long jump. He was just five centimeters short of moving into eighth and scoring the first point of the meet for the Longhorns.
In the pole vault, redshirt sophomore Barrett Poth improved on his finish from last year taking 11th place. He cleared 5.30 meters (17-4.50) on his first attempt to put himself into scoring contention after the first two bars of the competition.
Poth was in sixth place after clearing 5.30m but was unable to clear 5.45m (17-10.50), which would have been a new PR for him. With nine athletes clearing 5.45m, he was bumped down to 11th place.
The running semifinals for the men started strong with that school record in the 4x100. Givans ran the anchor leg and took momentum to his races in the 100 and 200 meters. Givans clocked 10.02 to advance to the final in the 100 and ran a new PR in the 200 at 20.32, just missing the school record, to advance there as well.
Givans was the only Longhorn able to advance out of his respective semifinals with the championship competition heating up on the track.
Spencer Dunkerley-Offor and John Burt both ran strong times in the 110 meter hurdles but would not move on. Dunkerley-Offor clocked 13.61 to finish 11th and Burt ran a new personal best time of 13.85 to finish in 17th place for the Longhorns.
Bailey Jr. was trying the 200/400 double and narrowly missed advancing in the 400. He crossed the finish line in 45.58 seconds to finish 11th overall. He was third in his heat and just .14 away from taking second and getting an automatic spot in the final. In the 200 meters, Bailey ran 20.56 and finished in 15th place.
Senior Byron Robinson entered the meet with the No. 1 time in the NCAA but he was slowed heading into the final straightaway after clipping a hurdle. He did not fall as he managed to keep his footing but he could not pass up a runner from Pittsburgh to get second in his heat and advance. He clocked 49.78 to finish third in his heat and take 10th overall.
Thursday will see the women's team compete in their semifinal heats in the running events with nine running entries. Two more Longhorns will face their top competitors in field event finals on Thursday as well. Wasik and Mahler will also complete the decathlon on Thursday.
"I'm excited about the women kicking things off tomorrow," Sategna said. "I know the women are prepared and ready to get things rolling."
Action begins Thursday from Historic Hayward Field at 10:30 a.m. PT with the 110 meter hurdles of the decathlon. The meet will be aired live on the ESPN family of networks with coverage provided by ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU at some point during the meet. Each day's action also will be provided online at espn3.com and via the WatchESPN app for smartphones and tablets. Check your local listings for times and stations.
Texas Quotes
Head Coach Mario Sategna
On the 4x100m relay: You knew they were ready to run based on what they did at regionals. You knew it was going to take 38-something to advance to the final. You have to treat today like it's a final because you know you're up against the best of the best. There's very little, if no margin at all, for error.
On narrowly missing advancing athletes to finals: We were right there on the brink with AJ advancing in the 400, same thing with Dunkerley-Offor in the hurdles and O'Brien in the long jump. It's not for lack of effort or lack of preparation from the coaches. You're with the best of the best and one little thing here and there and it's the difference between making the final and not making the final.
On Byron Robinson: I'm not mad or disappointed in Byron not making the final. He's overcome a lot of adversity and I'm very proud of him. I know every time he steps on the track he's going to give it his best. What he's done for The University of Texas, not just at conference or the NCAA, but representing us at the Olympic Games is phenomenal. He's going to be one of the top 400 hurdlers representing the United States for many years to come.
Players Mentioned
