Texas holds off Texas Tech to secure both team crowns for second year in a row, Roe doubles in women’s mile and 3,000, with Shelton sweeping men’s 60 and 200; Jones and Maier achieve meet records

By Landon Negri for DyeStat

AMES, Iowa – Certainly, the University of Texas track and field teams have shown how battle tested they are with their success over the years.

Just for good measure, though, the Longhorns proved it one more time Saturday.

Texas rallied from a slow start during Friday’s opening day, roaring back and then holding off serious challenges from Texas Tech to sweep the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Lied Recreation Center on the campus of Iowa State.

INTERVIEWS

The women won their fifth consecutive title and eighth in nine years with 136 points, ahead of second-place Texas Tech (124) and third-place Oklahoma State (123). The men won their second consecutive crown with 171 points while second-place Texas Tech tallied 155. Oklahoma was third with 84.

It marked the second year in a row the Longhorns swept both conference championships.

“I thought the first day, we were a little bit tight,” Texas coach Edrick Floreal said. “We didn’t perform like ourselves, but the second day, we had a good talk last night and decided, as a team, we were going to do it. I’m just pleased with the way the kids came out with energy, a lot of passion, a lot of energy and they made lots of noise and supported each other.”

After Friday’s first day, Texas’ men trailed Texas Tech by two points and was further behind leader Oklahoma State on the women’s side.

“I’m just pleased that we were able to come back and prevail,” Floreal said.

Texas athletes won nine of Saturday’s 27 events, and the Longhorns earned points throughout their lineup – sprints, distances, field events, and a meet-ending victory by the 4x400 relay team in 3 minutes, 14.9 seconds.

Several Texas individuals came close to winning two events, including 800-meter champ Crayton Carrozza (1:47.22) and mile champ Yusuf Bizimana (3:59.85). Carrozza was then second in the mile; Bizimana was runner-up in the 800.

“He’s one of my best friends and the best training partners I’ve ever had,” Carrozza said. “And I just love running with him. On any day, either of us, it’s one of our races.”

Texas also swept the 400, 600 and 800 races. Brooke Jaworski, who says she is unaware of any relation to former Philadelphia and L.A. Rams quarterback Ron Jaworski, won the women’s 800 in a personal-best 2:03.87.

Longhorns junior Jonathan Jones set one of the day's two meet records, winning the men’s 600 in 1:06.68, while sophomore Davicia Patterson won the women’s 600 in 1:19.41.

One of the day’s most exciting races was junior Kennedy Simon’s victory in the 400, an event that produced a 1-2-3 finish for Texas.

Simon edged past teammate and defending champ Stacey Ann Williams by diving for the finish line to win in a personal-best 51.54. Williams wound up second in 51.60 – the exact same time she ran in winning a year ago – and freshman Rhasidat Adeleke placed third in 52.33.

“I just try to make sure that I (didn't) fall before the line,” said Simon, who earned her sixth Big 12 title, “and just get a victory for today.”

Junior Julien Alfred came within thousandths of a second of becoming a double winner. She led a 1-2-3 Texas finish in the women’s 200 with a personal-best 22.89, ahead of second-place Kynnedy Flannel (23.02) and third-place Kevona Davis (23.30).

Texas Tech’s Rosemany Chukwuma edged Alfred in the women’s 60 with a win in 7.165 seconds; Alfred ran 7.167.

In the men’s shot put, the Longhorns relied on the brothers act of Adrian Piperi and Patrick Piperi. Adrian, a senior, won easily with a mark of 70-2.50 (21.40m). Patrick, a sophomore, was second at 62-0.25, a career best by almost a meter.

“Today was actually probably my most consistent meet I’ve had, ever, throwing over 21 (meters),” Adrian Piperi said. “I had (four) throws over 21 today, so I cannot be disappointed in it. I did want to throw a little further, but I’m very proud I was able to come here and do this for my team.

“And it was awesome to see him PR by so much,” Adrian added, pointing to Patrick.

Oddly enough, Saturday’s double individual winners were not Longhorns.

Oklahoma State sophomore Taylor Roe won the women’s mile and 3,000, following up a startling first leg of her team’s winning distance medley relay Friday night. In the 3,000, Roe held off a late challenge by Iowa State senior Cailie Logue to win in 9:35.85. Logue, the 5,000 winner on Friday, finished second in 9:36.33.

Roe also prevailed in the mile in 4;33.56, with Logue second in 4:36.46.

“I didn’t think I was running the 3K until 30 minutes before (the race),” Roe said. “I wasn’t even supposed to do it, but I figured, ‘You know, this is fun. Let’s just go and have another race.’”

Texas Tech junior Jacolby Shelton won the 60 and the 200, the latter a 1-2 placing including himself and teammate Courtney Lindsey. Shelton won the 60 in 6.64 and then outran Lindsey to win the 200 in 20.80. Lindsey clocked 20.84.

“I was really shocked with the 200,” Shelton said. “As I said earlier, (Lindsey) is an amazing 200 runner. In all honesty, I look up to him in the 200.”

Texas Tech tallied three other wins Saturday, with senior Jalen Seals winning the men’s triple jump (53-6.25; 16.31m), freshman Vashaun Vascianna topping the men’s 60 hurdles (7.75), and junior Gary Haasbroek prevailing in the heptathlon with 5,727 points.

It all marked a terrific effort by the Red Raiders, who pushed the Longhorns to the very end.

“I’m super proud of the way me and my team came out and fought today,” Shelton said.

Baylor enjoyed victories in the women’s 60 hurdles with sophomore Ackera Nugent (7.91) and in the women’s 4x400 relay (3:32.77). Nugent is the reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor champion.

Oklahoma State sophomore Alex Maier, who ran the anchor leg of the Cowboys’ distance medley relay Friday night, set the other meet record Saturday, winning the 3,000 and holding off Iowa State junior Wesley Kiptoo by a 7:48.73 to 7:50.43 margin.

Oklahoma junior Vernon Turner won the high jump in 7-3.75 (2.23m), with teammate Payden Montana emerging victorious in the women’s shot put in 56-8 (17.27m).

Kansas junior Rylee Anderson won the women’s high jump by clearing 6-1.50 (1.87m), prevailing against defending Division 1 indoor champion Tyra Gittens, who cleared 6-0.50 (1.84m) in her second meet with Texas following her transfer from Texas A&M.