The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
David Hemery Valentine Invitational
Texas Track & Field's Meeks breaks weight throw program record, Smallwood sets 60m hurdles mark
02.13.2026 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Longhorns post multiple all-time performances in Arkansas and Boston; Alfred runs world-leading 6.99.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Texas Track & Field turned in a series of record-setting and all-time performances Friday at the Tyson Invitational on the Lance Harter Track at the Randal Tyson Track Center, while the men's distance squad added historic marks in Boston.
Giavonna Meeks broke her own Texas record in the weight throw for the third consecutive week, placing third with a mark of 24.49 meters (80-4.25). The throw moved her to No. 7 on the NCAA all-time performer list and stands as the 18th-best mark in collegiate history.
Kendrick Smallwood continued his surge in the 60-meter hurdles, resetting his program record in the preliminaries with a time of 7.50 seconds. He followed with a 7.58 in the final to place third, recording the third-fastest time in school history. Smallwood now owns six of the top seven performances in the event in Texas history.
Kelsey Daniel placed third in the men's long jump with a mark of 8.14m (26-8.50), tying Marquise Goodwin for the second-best jump in Texas history. The performance moved Daniel to No. 3 in the NCAA this season. Former Longhorn Steffin McCarter also competed, opening his season with a jump of 8.11m (26-7.25).
In the women's long jump, Tabea Eitel recorded a personal-best 6.23 meters (20-5.25) to finish sixth. Abigail Wolfe placed fifth in the 60-meter dash in 7.36 after running a personal-best 7.32 in the prelims. Jamiah Nabbie added a personal-best 7.38 to finish 11th, while Elise Cooper posted a season-best 7.45. Rejoice Sule and Mia Mason each recorded season-best times of 7.47.
Brighton Mooney led the Longhorns in the women's 3,000 meters, placing eighth in 9:38.57. Natasja Beijen and Aishling Callanan each registered personal-best performances, finishing 20th in 9:45.17 and 22nd in 9:47.99, respectively.
Bayleigh Minor ran a season-best 53.18 to place 18th in the 400 meters, while Amelliah Birdow followed with a personal-best 53.28 to finish 22nd. In the women's 60-meter hurdles, Mason clocked a season-best 8.47 to place 17th, just ahead of Tabea Eitel, who ran a personal-best 8.49 to finish 19th.
On the men's side, Mathis Vaitulukina placed fifth in the long jump with a mark of 7.55 meters (25-9.25). Sam Abati tied for seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 5.20 meters (17-0.75). Jayden Jones finished 11th in the 60 meters in 6.73, Hudson Heikkinen ran a season-best 8:19.59 to place 20th in the 3,000 meters and Sihle Mahlangu added a personal-best 47.47 in the 400 meters.
Texas Ex and Olympic champion Julien Alfred highlighted the meet with a world-leading 6.99 in the women's 60-meter dash.
Meanwhile in Boston, the men's distance squad competed at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center, where Lucas Bons and Nathanael Berhane each moved onto the Texas all-time performers list.
Bons entered the program's top 10 in the mile, posting a personal-best 3:59.46 to claim the No. 9 spot. The time ranks as the 16th-fastest performance in school history and marks the fastest mile by a Longhorn since 2023. In the 3,000 meters, Berhane ran 8:01.49 to take over the No. 10 position on the Texas all-time list.
Texas will wrap up competition at both invitationals Saturday, Feb. 14, beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT. Sophia Kowalski will open the day for the Longhorns in Arkansas in the women's pole vault, while the women's distance team in Boston begins with the Distance Medley Relay.
Players Mentioned
