Changing his colors: Former KU star wins in Tech debut

In the first five track and field seasons after Texas Tech opened the Sports Performance Center, all eyes on winter Saturday afternoons often turned to the high-jump ring as Red Raider stars Trey Culver, JaCorian Duffield and Bradley Adkins frequently soared well above 7 feet in crowd-pleasing competitions.

This season, the spotlight might well shift over to the pole-vault pit as everyone keeps close watch on Zach Bradford, the new guy with the funky hair and the glittering resume.

A three-time Big 12 champion and a five-time first-team all-American for Kansas, Bradford made his Texas Tech debut during Saturday's Corky Classic by winning his event with a vault of 18 feet, 4 3/4 inches. His personal record is 19-0 3/4.

Only two other vaulters remained in the competition when Bradford entered. The 6-foot, 165-pound senior from Bloomington, Illinois passed on the first four heights, cleared the next five bars on first attempts and then missed on three tries at 18-7 1/4.

"I'd say it was a good first opening meet to the year," he said. "I had some struggles last year toward the end of the season, so it's good to bounce back. I think that's the highest I've jumped in probably about a year now."

Since beginning his college career at KU in 2019, Bradford has qualified for every NCAA championship meet indoor and outdoor and finished fifth, sixth, third, fifth, seventh and ninth. He's won the past three Big 12 titles and finished second in the two before that.

At this time last year, though, Bradford was about to hit a rough patch. Competing in Nebraska, he lost his grip on the pole during takeoff and fell backward onto the mat on his neck and back. The next meet at Clemson, he no-heighted.

The experience shook him. He conferred with a sports psychologist throughout last year.

"It was almost like I was hesitant, scared to vault," he said, "which in this sport, you can't be hesitant. You can't be scared or then it just gets worse. So I was just battling through that. I was on small poles all season. ...

"Now I'm really confident, so we should be good the rest of the year."

Bradford arrived at Tech in August, choosing the Red Raiders over Virginia Tech after he had his name entered into the NCAA transfer portal. The Red Raiders also got former Texas pole vaulter Warren Miller who, in the past four Big 12 meets, has finished fourth three times and third once. Among their returnees are Kyle Stifflemire, who took third at the 2021 Big 12 outdoor, and Colton Naffziger, who finished fifth as a freshman at last year's Big 12 indoor.

In choosing the Red Raiders, Bradford had a good idea of what he was getting.

Bradford has a background of club track and field with Naffziger, who's also from Ilinois, so they conferred. This weekend was Bradford's sixth time to compete in Lubbock. He won last year's Big 12 indoor title here.

"I love this facility," he said. "The runway's super fast. Having this big turf field to run on keeps the shins healthy and staying healthy throughout the fall season and fall training's all I could really ask for."

In his first meet as a Red Raider, the favorite in competition also was the easiest to spot. Bradford dyed his brown hair red on one side, bleached it on the other side and dyed a black stripe in between.

He plans to do a different design every week.

Jordan Scott, a former NCAA champion vaulter from Kansas, dyed his hair before competitions.

"I met him when I first started vaulting, so he's kind of an inspiration," Bradford said. "So I figured, my last year, I'll have some fun. It kind of keeps me distracted from competition, have a little fun."

Tech is back in action Friday in the Red Raider Open. Tech teams are home six weekends out of seven in February, culminating with the Big 12 championships on Feb. 24-25.

THE CORKY CLASSIC

at the Sports Performance Center

Friday-Saturday Results

WOMEN

Field Events

Weight throw: 1. Phethisang Makhethe, New Mexico State, 63 feet, 8 1/4 inch; 2. Elisabet Rut Runarsdottir, Texas State, 59-1 1/2; 3. Field Gatlin, Texas Tech, 59-1 1/2; 4. Malin Smith, Texas Tech, 58-7 1/4.

Pole vault section B: 1. Olivia Mitchell, UT Tyler, 11-7; 2. Mia Ruffino, Texas State, 11-7; 3. Sage Barmettler, Tarleton State, 11-7.

Long jump: 1. Monae' Nichols, Puma, 21-0 1/2; 2. Alexis Brown, Baylor, 20-0 1/2; 3. Koi Johnson, Baylor, 19-3 1/2.

High jump: 1. Rhiziane Siba, Morocco, 6-0; 2. Katherine Stuckly, Texas State, 5-7; 3. Aicha Moumin, Baylor, 5-7; 4. Mara Hering, Texas Tech, 5-7.

Shot put: 1. Melanie Duron, Texas State, 52-6 1/2; 2. Malin Smith, Texas Tech, 51-2 1/4; 3. Field Gatlin, Texas Tech, 51-1 3/4.

Pole vault: 1. Ryleigh Redding, Texas Tech, 13-8 1/2; 2. Chloe Wall, unattached, 13-4 1/2; 3. Sarah Tackitt, Texas Tech, 13-0 3/4.

Long jump section B: 1. Mathilde Canet, Texas State, 19-5 1/2; 2. Keviah Ealy, Baylor, 19-2 3/4; 3. Miriam Zanovello, West Texas A&M, 19-2 3/4.

Triple jump: 1. Onaara Obamuwagun, Texas Tech, 43-2 1/4; 2. Taylor Nelloms, West Texas A&M, 41-10 1/2; 3. Miriam Zanovello, West Texas A&M, 40-2.

Running Events

600 yards: 1. Lily Williams, Baylor, 1 minute, 20.21 seconds; 2. Calisha Taylor, New Mexico Junior College, 1:21.65; 3. Loubna Benhadja, Texas-El Paso, 1:22.39; 4. Lexye Price, Texas Tech, 1:23.06.

400 meters section B: 1. Sanaria Butler, Northwestern State, 56.85; 2. Jaylen Hogue, Midwestern State, 57.13; 3. Shackelia Green, Western Texas College, 58.59; 5. Shenell Tucker, South Plains College, 59.05.

1,000: 1. Thulisile Amon, New Mexico State, 3:00.47; 2. Letlhogonolo Magoro, New Mexico JC, 3:01.39; 3. Emma Bock, Texas Tech, 3:02.69.

200 section B: 1. Zariere Dumas, Texas Tech, 24.33; 2. Tijuanique Morton, New Mexico JC, 24.52; 3. Leah Pettis, Texas A&M-Commerce, 24.57.

3,000 section B: 1. Kylah Holland, Hardin-Simmons, 10:38.83; 2. Daisy Jerop, New Mexico JC, 11:21.46; 3. Georgina Balderas, Tarleton State, 11:25.24.

Mile: 1. Alicja Konieczek, ON Running, 4:41.91; 2. Joy Gill, Incarnate Word, 4:55.40; 3. Eleonora Curtabbi, West Texas A&M, 4:55.40; 6. Hannah Spears, Texas Tech, 5:07.52.

400: 1. Imaobong Nse Uko, Baylor, 53.51; 2. Nayanna Dubarry-Gay, Texas Tech, 54.63; 3. Lacarthea Cooper, New Mexico JC, 54.91.

800: 1. Rushana Dwyer, South Plains, 2:19.70; 2. Calista Segura, UT Tyler, 2:22.26; 3. Marissa Agee, UT Tyler, 2:27.36; 5. Lilliana Guerrero, South Plains, 2:30.90.

60 hurdles: 1. Demisha Roswell, Texas Tech, 7.99 (school record; old record, Roswell, 8.00 in 2022); 2. Marissa Simpson, 8.23; 3. Aliyah Logan, New Mexico State, 8.27.

60: 1. Rosemary Chukwuma, Texas Tech, 7.13 (Chukwuma ran school record 7:11 in first round; old record, Chukwuma, 7.17 in 2022); 2. Maboundou Kone, France, 7.19; 3. Caira Pettway, unattached, 7.32; 4. Zhane Smith, Texas Tech, 7.33.

200: 1. Maboundou Kone, France, 23.11; 2. Kavia Francis, Baylor, 23.36; 3. Niesha Burger, UTEP, 23.79.

3,000: 1. Ruth Jerubet, UTEP, 9:55.38; 2. Emily Stutesman, New Mexico State, 10:02.18; 3. Thobile Amon, New Mexico State, 10:07.87; 5. Cassandra O'Pry, Texas Tech, 10:18.79.

1,600 relay: 1. Baylor (Kavia Francis, Mariah Ayers, Gontske Morake, Imaobong Nse Uko), 3:37.22; 2. New Mexico JC, 3:42.49; 3. Texas Tech B (Lexye Price, Le-Taija Jackson, Serena Clark, Rosemary Chukwuma), 3:43.31; 5. Texas Tech, 3:44.84.

MEN

Field Events

Long jump: 1. Joseph Oreva, West Texas A&M, 25-4 3/4; 2. Khybah Dawson, New Mexico Junior College, 24-5; 3. Kelsey Daniel, New Mexico JC, 24-1 1/2.

Weight throw: 1. Jacob Mechler, Texas Tech, 66-6 1/2; 2. Gary Moore, Baylor, 65-3 1/2; 3. Konner Wood, Texas Tech, 63-0; 4. Bryce Spencer, Lubbock Christian University, 61-7; 5. Chris Samaniego, Texas Tech, 59-0.

Pole vault section B: 1. Simon Thor, Texas State, 16-5 1/2; 2. Simon Rey, Angelo State, 15-11 3/4; 3. Nate Butler, Baylor, 15-11 3/4; 4. Denim Rogers, Texas Tech, 15-5 3/4.

High jump: 1. Kudakwashe Chadenga, South Plains College, 7-5; 2. Randy Kelly, Northwestern State, 6-9 1/2; 3. Wyatt Thiel, Oklahoma Christian, 6-9 1/2; 4. (tie) Billy Mosnier, South Plains, 6-7 1/2.

Pole vault: 1. Zach Bradford, Texas Tech, 18-4 3/4; 2. Benjamin Conacher, Baylor, 17-7 1/4; 3. Warren Miller, Texas Tech, 16-11 1/2; 4. Logan Fraley, Texas Tech, 16-5 1/2; 5. Colton Naffziger, Texas Tech, 16-5 1/2; 6. Kyle Stifflemire, Texas Tech, 15-11 3/4.

Long jump section B: 1. Matheo Bernat, Incarnate Word, 23-4 1/2; 2. Harry Crosby, South Plains, 23-4; 3. Micky Ferdinand, Texas A&M-Commerce, 22-10 3/4.

Shot put: 1. Djimon Gumbs, Northwestern State, 57-2 3/4; 2. Luke Holcombe, West Texas A&M, 57-0; 3. Garrett Stokes, Incarnate Word, 56-5 1/4; 6. Donroy Brown, South Plains, 55-4 3/4.

Triple jump: 1. Chris Welch, Texas Tech, 52-4 1/2; 2. Kelsey Daniel, New Mexico JC, 51-10; 3. Trayveon Franklin, Texas A&M-Commerce, 48-0 3/4.

Running Events

600 yards: 1. Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor, 1 minute, 8.75 seconds; 2. Kimar Farquharson, South Plains College, 1:09.35; 3. Caio Almeida, South Plains, 1:09.75; 6. Evaldo Whitehorne, South Plains, 1:11.24.

400 meters section B: 1. George Garcia, LCU, 48.37; 2. Eddie Barrientes, Texas A&M-Commerce, 48.62; 3. Ashton Turner, UT Tyler, 48.97.

1,000: 1. Mehmet Celik, South Plains, 2:24.60; 2. Evans Pololet, New Mexico JC, 2:25.70; 3. Kenneth Talavera, Texas-El Paso, 2:25.88; 4. Aron Tanui, South Plains, 2:26.70.

200 section B: 1. Delan Edwin, Texas A&M-Commerce, 21.03; 2. Laurenz Colbert, Baylor, 21.03; 3. Tevijon Williams, Incarnate Word, 21.09.

3,000 section B: 1. Casey Novelo, Texas A&M-Commerce, 9:02.27; 2. Mason White, Texas A&M-Commerce, 9:06.36; 3. Jason Alcala, UT Tyler, 9:07.65; 4. Maximus Palacios, South Plains, 9:11.92.

Mile: 1. Yusuf Mohamud, UTEP, 4:14.68; 2. Daniel Bernal, UTEP, 4:14.69; 3. Samuel Navarro, Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, 4:16.42; 5. Isaac Hernandez, unattached (Texas Tech), 4:21.07.

400: 1. Jeremy Bembridge, South Plains, 46.91; 2. Donald Chiyangwa, New Mexico JC, 47.01; 3. Shaemar Uter, Texas Tech, 47.16; 5. Gregory Prince, South Plains, 47.51.

800: 1. Takieddine Hedeilli, unattached (formerly Texas Tech), 1:47.49; 2. Mehmet Celik, South Plains, 1:48.23; 3. Marco Vilca, Texas Tech, 1:48.75; 4. Aron Tanui, South Plains, 1:49.43; 5. Chevonne Hall, South Plains, 1:49.97.

60 hurdles: 1. Caleb Dean, Texas Tech, 7.72; 2. Tyrin Lewis, unattached, 7.77; 3. Taylor Rooney, unattached (Texas Tech), 7.82; 4. Justin Guy, South Plains, 7.90; 5. Dishaun Lamb, South Plains, 7.92.

60: 1. J.T. Smith, Texas A&M-Commerce, 6.60; 2. Zachaeus Beard, Northwestern State, 6.61; 3. Courtney Lindsey, Texas Tech, 6.62; 6. Jacolby Shelton, Texas Tech, 6.72.

200: 1. Courtney Lindsey, Texas Tech, 20.41; 2. Simon Wulff, Northwestern State, 20.62; 3. Tapiwanashe Makarawu, New Mexico JC, 20.76.

3,000: 1. Brian Kiptoo, Northwest Kansas, 8:24.68; 2. Tomas Vegas, New Mexico JC, 8:30.22; 3. German Vega, New Mexico JC, 8:30.26.

1,600 relay: 1. Baylor (Hasani Barr, Demar Francis, Matthew Moorer, Nathaniel Ezekiel), 3:04.86; 2. Texas Tech (Caleb Dean, Shaemar Uter, Nylo Clarke, Marco Vilca), 3:08.21; 3. Texas State, 3:08.23; 4. South Plains, 3:09.22.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Changing his colors: Former KU star Zach Bradford wins in Texas Tech debut