AUSTIN, TEXAS, April 1-4 — The 98th edition of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays will not be remembered among the greatest ever. A blustery, rainy cold front at the beginning of the Saturday session guaranteed that. Chilly temps meant tight muscles, so a meet known for sprint records had to settle for a lot of “not bad considering the conditions” marks.
In fact, the best marks of the meet came on Thursday and Friday, before the front arrived, most notably a monster hammer throw from Olympic and world champion Camryn Rogers. On the track, many racers notched better qualifying marks than finals, including the first sub-13 (albeit windy) high schooler in the 110 hurdles.
Many pros use Texas as a season debut to knock off the winter rust, but Canadian Rogers showed she’s ready to beat the world now. On her third throw, she launched a 266-2 (81.13), the eighth-best mark in history that solidified her hold as No. 2 all-time performer. The heave improved Rogers’s best by 2-1 (62cm). Only the GOAT, Poland’s Anita Włodarczyk, ranks ahead of her.
Rogers’ other throws showed it wasn’t a one-off — she also reached 257-8, 259-2 and 260-6 (78.54, 78.99 and 79.42).
Rogers moved to Austin in November to stay close to coach Mo Saatara, who has replaced Zeb Sion as the Longhorns’ throws coach.
“I think Coach Mo and I both [expected] some good throws, but I did not expect 81 meters,” Rogers said. “And so to hear that number pop up, I was just absolutely stoked. It was just incredible. It shows that we’re training super well right now. We’re on the right path.”
Although it was Rogers’ first Texas Relays, it was not her first triumphant visit to Austin. In 2019, as a Cal sophomore, she won the collegiate title.
“Funny enough, my first NCAA championships was here in 2019,” she said. “I broke 70 meters here [for the first time], I threw 71.50 (234-7). So now to come back and break 81, seven years later, it feels pretty surreal.”
On Saturday, high schooler Mariah Maxwell (Atascocita, Humble, Texas), showed she’s ready for the next level by defeating a mostly collegiate field in the invitational 200. The Texas commit’s 22.25w (3.8 wind) ranks third all-time on the all-conditions prep list. Maxwell attends Atascocita High, north of Houston, but was competing for APXP Speed Development.
Fans were left wondering how she might have fared against the pros — a heat that would have included Gabby Thomas, Cambrea Sturgis and Tamara Clark was canceled.
Thomas did run earlier — she and TBBTC teammates Sturgis, Clark and Rayniah Jones ran a solo 43.24 in the 4 x 100, but she really showed her post-injury fitness in the 100 with a wind-legal 11.00 (1.9). She easily turned back Nayla Harris (11.24) and Sturgis (11.26). Thomas was initially ecstatic after crossing the line, but then became visibly upset by something. Unfortunately, she did not grant interviews afterward.
In the collegiate 100, Victoria Cameron of tiny Tarleton State (Stephenville, Texas) continued her strong season with a CL and =PR 11.01 (1.2), trailed by Texas’ Carleta Bernard in 11.06. This follows her 3rd-place in the 60 at NCAA Indoor.
“There’s no sun, it’s cold, and that’s running my PR, so I know there’s so much potential,” Cameron said.
Typical for the weekend, collegiate leaders also came in the short hurdles, but in prelims. One had a slower final, while the other was quicker but windy.
The latter came from Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood. On Friday he qualified with a 13.24 (1.8), and then really ripped the field Saturday in 13.16w (2.7). He was well clear of Ohio State’s Braxton Brann (13.46). Still, it was slower than the 13.07w last year that shot him to national prominence.
“I think it went pretty smooth, especially considering the conditions,” Smallwood said. “I was a little unsteady and unsure about how today would turn out just because of the weather. But overall, I am very content with the performance. I think it’s definitely a start.”
On the women’s side, Kentucky junior Emmi Scales qualified Friday with a 12.75 and then, despite even less aiding wind, clocked 12.82 in Saturday’s final. Texas Tech’s Symoria Adkins chased her in 13.00 (12.99 in the prelims).
A few minutes later, Scales gave a congratulatory hug to Olympic champ and former Kentucky star Masai Russell, who won the invitational race in 12.72w (2.4), prevailing easily over Rayniah Jones’ 13.10. At this same meet three years ago, Russell, now the American Record-holder, ran a CR 12.36.
“Today was a pretty solid performance,” Russell said. “It just was me opening up my season. I haven’t run since October, so we trained all the way through indoor. I felt good despite the conditions. It was an opener.”
Other noteworthy highlights came in the baton events, hinting at what’s to come in Eugene at the NCAA. On the men’s side, Houston’s 4×1 won in 38.69 and Texas Tech took the 4×4 in 3:03.46. For the women, Texas won in 43.19 and 3:27.74.
In the 4 x 800, Kentucky’s women took the stick around in 8:24.18, almost displacing their own 1986 squad (8:24.02) for 12th on the all-time schools list.
TEXAS RELAYS MEN’S RESULTS
100(1.6): 1. Abel Jordan’ (CSF-Spa) 10.12; 2. **Damor Miller’ (IndHCC-Jam) 10.19; 3. Nazzio John’ (OhSt-Grn) 10.21.
Heats: I(4.3)–1. John’ 10.03w. II(2.7)–1. Denzel Simusialela’ (Ky-Zim) 10.08w. III(4.3)–1. Isaac Botsio’ (WTxAM-Gha) 10.04w. IV(4.5)–1. **Miller’ 10.06w. V(3.4)–1. *James Dadzie’ (WTxAM-Gha) 10.05w.
200: I(1.6)–1. ***William Opare (Angelo-Gha) 20.48. IV(1.9)–1. **Jalen Johnson (Clem) 20.50.
St: 1. **Titus Kimaru’ (TxT-Ken) 8:37.21.
110H(2.7): 1. *Kendrick Smallwood (Tx) 13.16w; 2. *Braxton Brann (OhSt) 13.46w; 3. **Anthony Waterman (Ky) 13.78w.
Heats: V(1.8)–1. Smallwood 13.24 (WL, AL, CL).
400H: 1. Kody Blackwood (Tx) 49.58; 2. *Jayden Douglas (TCU) 49.81; 3. Chris Brinkley (Tx) 50.06; 4. ***Shamer Blake’ (WnTx-Jam) 50.53.
4 x 100: 1. Houston 38.69; 2. Cal State Fullerton 39.08; 3. Texas 39.10; 4. Clemson 39.20; 5. Harvard 39.42.
4 x 200: 1. Houston 1:22.48; 2. Baylor 1:22.78.
4 x 400: 1. Texas Tech 3:03.46; 2. Ohio State 3:04.18; 3. Texas 3:04.29.
4 x 800: 1. Indian Hills CC 7:20.35; 2. UT-Arlington 7:22.01; 3. TCU 7:25.03.
SpMed: 1. Texas Tech 3:17.48; 2. North Texas 3:18.02; 3. Oklahoma Baptist 3:19.46.
Field Events
HJ: 1. **Bradford Jennings (TxT) 7-1¾ (2.18).
PV: 1. James Rhoads (Wa) 18-10¼ (5.75); 2. *Maddox Hamm (VaT) 18-2½ (5.55); 3. Vlad Malykhin’ (Hard-Ukr) 18-2½; 4. tie, Ben Kirbo (TCU), **Sean Gribble (TxT), & Ashton Barkdull (unat) 17-8½ (5.40).
LJ: 1. Kelsey Daniel’ (Tx-Tri) 25-10¾w (7.89); 2. *DJ Fillmore (OhSt) 25-9½w (7.86) (25-4½/7.73).
TJ: 1. Daniel’ 52-10 (16.10).
SP: 1. *Michael Pinones (Tx) 64-5¼ (19.64).
HT: 1. Rowan Hamilton’ (Can) 251-0 (76.51); 2. Sean Smith (Ia) 221-4 (67.47).
JT: I–1. ***Tevz Podlipnik’ (FresP-Slo) 231-6 (70.56). II–1. Laurenz Waldbauer’ (NWNaz-Aut) 230-5 (70.25).
Dec: 1. **Fran Bonifačić’ (WTxAM-Cro) 7526.
TEXAS RELAYS WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(1.2): 1. *Victoria Cameron (Tarl) 11.01 (CL); 2. *Carleta Bernard’ (Tx-Jam) 11.06; 3. *Paje Rasmussen (BYU) 11.21; 4. ***Abigail Wolfe’ (Tx-Jam) 11.26.
100 Inv(1.9): 1. Gabby Thomas (NBal) 11.00; 2. Cambrea Sturgis (adidas) 11.26.
200(3.8): 1. Mariah Maxwell (TxHS) 22.25w; 2. **Yahnari Lyons (How) 22.86w.
100H(0.4): 1. *Emmi Scales (Ky) 12.82; 2. *Symoria Adkins (TxT) 13.00; 3. **Rukia Nusra Omulisia’ (Ky-Ken) 13.13; 4. *Camden Bentley (Ky) 13.14.
Heats: V(1.3)–1. Scales 12.75 (WL).
100H Inv (2.4): 1. Masai Russell (Nike) 12.72w; 2. Rayniah Jones (TBBTC) 13.10w; 3. Ashley Miller’ (Zim) 13.15w.
400H Inv: 1. Ashley Miller’ (Zim) 55.97; 2. Deonca Bookman (unat) 57.33.
400H: 1. *Amelliah Birdow (Tx) 55.37; 2. ***Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera’ (Ky-Ken) 55.45; 3. Vanessa Balde’ (TxT-Ger) 56.02; 4. **Emiliia Tangara’ (WTxAM-Rus) 56.41; 5. **Mackenzie Collins (Tx) 57.12.
Open 4 x 100: 1. TBBTC 43.24 (Sturgis, Thomas, Jones, Clark).
4 x 100: 1. Texas 43.19; 2. Texas Tech 43.58; 3. Clemson 43.59; 4. TCU 43.64; 5. Kentucky 43.98; 6. Baylor 44.39.
4 x 200: 1. Baylor 1:31.58; 2. Texas 1:33.28.
4 x 400: 1. Texas 3:27.74; 2. Texas Tech 3:29.91; 3. Ohio State 3:31.45; 4. BYU 3:33.36.
4 x 800: 1. Kentucky 8:24.18.
SpMed: 1. Clemson 3:40.62; 2. Texas Tech 3:43.95; 3. Kentucky 3:45.84; 4. TCU 3:46.00; 5. Ohio State 3:47.00.
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Claire Lowrey (TxT) 6-2 (1.88); 2. ***Kemarah Howard (Ky) 6-2; 3. *Evelyn Lavielle (TxT) 5-10¾ (1.80).
PV: 1. *Molly Haywood (Bay) 14-7¼ (4.45); 2. Anicka Newell’ (Can) 14-3¼ (4.35).
LJ: 1. *Ida Breigan’ (UTSA-Nor) 22-¼ (6.71); 2. *Tamiah Washington (TxT) 20-11¼ (6.38).
TJ: 1. Mylana Hearn (unat) 44-6¾w (13.58) (43-1/13.13); 2. **Jeanne Le Goff’ (Tx-Fra) 43-2½ (13.17).
DT: 1. Esther Osisike’ (Ngr) 177-5 (54.09); 2. *Milina Wepiwe’ (Harv-Ger) 176-11 (53.92); 3. *McKenzie Davis (TxT) 176-2 (53.70).
HT: 1. Camryn Rogers’ (Can) 266-2 (81.13) NR (WL) (2, 8 W) (257-8, 259-2, 266-2, 260-7, f, f) (78.54, 78.99, 81.13, 79.42, f, f);
2. Ann Purchase’ (GB) 238-3 (72.63); 3. Elisabet Runarsdottir’ (TxSt-Ice) 229-3 (69.89); 4. *Giavonna Meeks (Tx) 221-2 (67.42).
JT: 1. Elizabeth Korczak’ (Ia-GB) 181-1 (55.20); 2. ***Erika Konovalenko’ (Hard-Ukr) 164-11 (50.26).
Hept(4/01–02): 1. Esther Conde-Turpin’ (WTxAM-Fra) 6161; 2. **Tabea Eitel’ (Tx-Ger) 5648; 3. *Julia Gunnell (Ky) 5514;
4. **Logan Todorovich (Bay) 5487; 5. *Katie Chapman’ (OkSt-GB) 5484.
