Usoro takes over NCAA lead, equals No. 2 mark in world this year and matches No. 6 performer in collegiate indoor history with 22-4.50 (6.82m) effort on final jump; Nugent clocks 7.91 in 60 hurdles prelims, with Lightfoot and Tidwell taking pole vault titles for Bears, as Kiptoo and Logue sweep 5,000 crowns for Cyclones

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Among multiple Texas Tech individual titles Friday and several thrilling performances on the first day of the Big 12 Indoor Championships, none were more dramatic or historic than the sixth-round long jump produced by senior Ruth Usoro.

The defending champion trailed Texas junior Tara Davis by two inches prior to the final attempt of the competition, but Usoro saved her best for last, setting off a big celebration on the infield at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock after her leap was measured at a collegiate-leading 22 feet, 4.50 inches (6.82m).

Usoro not only repeated as champion, becoming the seventh female athlete in conference finals history to secure back-to-back long jump titles, but she also eclipsed the program record and equaled the No. 2 indoor mark in the world this year.

The Nigerian standout also matched the No. 6 indoor performer in collegiate history, improving on her previous-best mark 21-9 (6.63m) from the second round.

Davis gained the advantage with a fourth-round effort of 21-11 (6.68m) and led until Usoro’s final trip down the runway. Monae’ Nichols, who entered the competition as the collegiate indoor leader at 22-1.75 (6.75m), finished third at 21-2.50 (6.46m) for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech now boasts the top two NCAA long jumpers this season, along with Usoro leading the triple jump at 46-10.25 (14.28m), making her the No. 2 indoor performer in collegiate history.

Usoro also completed a sweep of both long jump titles for Texas Tech after senior Jalen Seals prevailed with a fifth-round effort of 25-2.75 (7.69m), holding off Texas sophomore Leo Neugebauer, whose comeback effort came up just short with a sixth-round mark of 25-2.50 (7.68m).

Baylor swept both pole vault crowns, but the biggest highlight for the Bears came in the women’s 60-meter hurdles prelims, as Jamaican freshman Ackera Nugent equaled the World U-20 indoor record by clocking 7.91 seconds.

Nugent matched the performance achieved last year at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships by Grace Stark of Florida. She took over the collegiate lead, equaled the No. 8 performer in the world this year and matched the No. 11 indoor competitor in collegiate history.

Collegiate indoor record holder KC Lightfoot cleared 19-4.25 (5.90m) on his second attempt for Baylor, before missing twice at 19-8.25 (6.00m) and once at 19-9 (6.02m), which would have been a new all-time mark for the junior and equaled the No. 2 clearance in the world this year.

Senior Tuesdi Tidwell, who survived a third-attempt clearance at 13-6.25 (4.12m), also soared over 14-4 (4.37m) on her third try to secure the first title for the Bears since Annie Rhodes-Johnigan in 2017. Kansas junior Samantha Van Hoecke took second with a 14-2 (4.32m) clearance.

Iowa State swept the 5,000-meter titles, with junior Wesley Kiptoo clocking 13:42.52 to help the Cyclones secure a fourth consecutive men’s championship. Cailie Logue, a junior, defended her crown by running 16:27.10.

Texas Tech swept the weight throw championships, with senior Seasons Usual repeating as women’s winner with a sixth-round effort of 70-10 (21.59m). Senior Gabriel Oladipo captured the first men’s weight throw crown in program history with a fifth-round performance of 69-5.25 (21.16m).

Oklahoma State triumphed in the men’s distance medley relay in 9:48.71, as Ryan Schoppe surged past Texas on the anchor leg to secure the seventh title in 11 years for the Cowboys.

West Virginia made history with its first women’s DMR title, relying on a 4:43.50 anchor from Ceili McCabe to rally the Mountaineers from third to edge Oklahoma State by an 11:21.35 to 11:21.42 margin.