Tech freshman hurdler breaks school record

Running indoors is new to Antoine Andrews. Running 42-inch hurdles is new. So is running them over 60 meters.

None of that held him back Friday night. One of Texas Tech's most heralded track and field signees this season showed why he was such a coveted recruit.

The first-semester freshman ran the 60-meter hurdles in 7.59 seconds, setting a school record and rocketing up this season's major-college leaderboard from tied for 22nd going into the week to tentatively tied for second, pending results from other meets this weekend. He virtually assured himself of a trip to the NCAA indoor championships next month in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He did it in the Jarvis Scott Open at the Sports Performance Center.

"He is a special runner and hurdler," Tech coach Wes Kittley said, "and we do have great (expectations) for him."

Six months ago in Colombia, Andrews breezed through the 110-meter hurdles in a wind-legal 13.23, winning gold at the Under-20 World Championships. That was on 39-inch hurdles. Coming from Nassau, Bahamas, Andrews never competed indoors until he arrived at Tech in January. And every college freshman running the sprint hurdles must make the transition from 39-inch to 42-inch hurdles.

"I'm getting familiarized with the new height," he said. "I had to get more comfortable and more matured with it, but as the days go by and the meets go by, I'm starting to get more comfortable."

Andrews broke the school record in his third meet, two weeks after he debuted in a Tech uniform. Omo Osaghae, the three-time U.S. champion and 2014 world champion in the event, ran 7.60 at the 2010 NCAA championships hosted by Arkansas. Though Andrews' 7.59 converts to 7.61 for NCAA ranking purposes to account for Lubbock's 3,200 feet of altitude, a Tech spokesman said the 7.59 will be recognized as the school record.

Since Tech opened the Sports Performance Center in January 2018, the Red Raiders have composed their winter seasons almost exclusively with home meets. Rarely having to travel in January and February has been seen as a plus for Tech athletes, and the facility has yielded so many highly ranked times and marks, top-ranked college teams and professionals regularly come to Lubbock.

For Andrews, the concept of competing indoors takes some getting used to.

"It's something new to me," he said. "I had to get adjusted. Like, it's very new to me. At first, I didn't like it, because it's, like, foreign. But like I said, after many days of coming over here and practicing and many meets, I get more comfortable with it."

A track team's strengths can vary from one season to the next. All of a sudden, the Tech men look loaded with hurdlers. Maryland transfer Caleb Dean ran a 7.62 last weekend at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Even with the altitude conversion to 7.64, Dean ranks sixth in Division I.

Last year, Tech's Vashaun Vascianna also made a sizzling debut, finishing fourth at the NCAA indoor championships in the 60 hurdles for first-team all-America status and winning the 110s at the Big 12 outdoor meet. The sophomore from Kingston, Jamaica is expected to miss the entire 2023 indoor and outdoor seasons, though, after surgery this coming Monday to repair a hip labrum.

Tech can look forward to having all three competing at once next year.

Their potential?

"Yeah, it's endless," Kittley said. "Once we get them all together and they're able to train together every week, it's going to be a special group."

The Jarvis Scott Open was Tech's fourth home meet in five weeks. Next up is the Matador Qualifier on Friday and then the Big 12 championships Feb. 24-25 at the Sports Performance Center.

Another Tech record fell on Saturday when Rosemary Chukwuma ran the women's 200 meters in 22.82 seconds, breaking Cierra White's 22.90 from March 2015. Chukwuma broke the Tech women's 60-meters record last month when she ran 7.09.

"She's capable of even more than that," Kittley said. "She ran 22.82, and I believe she'll run in the 22.70s at Big 12. She's really, really come on, both in the 60 and the 200, but nothing surprises me with Rosemary."

JARVIS SCOTT OPEN

Friday-Saturday

at the Sports Performance Center

Event-final results only

WOMEN

Field Events

Weight throw: 1. Marlene Gutierrez, UT-Rio Grande Valley, 62 feet, 5 inches; 2. Jessica Thompson, Brigham Young, 61-7; 3. Malin Smith, Texas Tech, 61-6 1/4; 4. Field Gatlin, Texas Tech, 60-1 1/4; 5. Ronelle Plaza, South Plains College, 54-8 1/2.

Pole vault B section: 1. Matilde Poli, Incarnate Word, 12-5 1/2; 2. Sage Barmettler, Tarleton State, 11-8; 3. (tie Coryn Peters, Angelo State, Maci Guy, Prairie View A&M, 11-2 1/4.

Weight throw B section: 1. Lilly Rodel, Sam Houston State, 53-6 1/4; 2. Sa'Niya Fowler, Incarnate Word, 50-9 1/2; 3. Hannah Hilding, UTRGV, 50-0 3/4; 4. Abigail Jones, Lubbock Christian University, 48-10 3/4.

Long jump: 1. Dreunna Washington, TCU, 19-3 1/2; 2. Rayja'nae Pettit, UTRGV, 19-0 3/4; 3. Payton Kirk, Abilene Christian, 18-10.

Long jump B section: 1. Jalen Elrod, Prairie View A&M, 19-1 1/4; 2. Shaynea Redmond, Sam Houston State, 18-10 3/4; 3. Jordan Rae, Tarleton State, 18-10 3/4.

Shot put B section: 1. Faith Mitchell, unattached (Texas Tech), 46-8 3/4; 2. Marlene Gutierrez, UTRGV, 43-10 3/4; 3. Baylee Thompson, Texas Tech, 43-0 1/4.

Triple jump: 1. Ella Anttila, Abilene Christian, 41-6 1/2; 2. Rayja'nae Pettit, UTRGV, 40-11 3/4; 3. Jade Johnson, Sam Houston State, 40-6 1/4; 6. Tamiah Washington, unattached (Texas Tech), 39-4 1/2.

Pole vault: 1. Quinn Calhoun, TCU, 13-5 3/4; 2. Olivia Cade, Texas Tech, 13-1 3/4; 3. Rachel Maciejeski,, Sam Houston State, 13-1 3/4; 5. Sarah Tackitt, Texas Tech, 12-8.

High jump: 1. Cierra Tidwell, BYU, 6-1 1/4; 2. Dora Van Doremalen, Tarleton State, 5-7; 3. Brooke Urban, West Texas A&M, 5-7.

Shot put: 1. Field Gatlin, Texas Tech, 53-0; 2. Gretchen Hoekstre, BYU, 52-8; 3. Malin Smith, Texas Tech, 51-10 1/2.

Running Events

800 meters: 1. Fanny Arendt, Texas Tech, 2 minutes, 11.12 seconds; 2. Jasmin Muhammad-Graham, TCU, 2:13.11; 3. Emma Bock, Texas Tech, 2:14,90; 4. Rushana Dwyer, South Plains, 2:15.00; 6. Torrye Tyler, Texas Tech, 2:15.90.

400: 1. Deshana Skeete, New Mexico Junior College, 54.49; 2. Zariere Dumas, Texas Tech, 54.75; 3. Lacarthea Cooper, New Mexico JC, 54.85; 4. Grace Obour, Western Texas, 54.86.

60 hurdles: 1. Adaobi Tabugbo, BYU, 8.30; 2. Naomi Krebs, Texas Tech, 8.57; 3. Symoria Adkins, UTRGV, 8.60.

60: 1. Demisha Roswell, Texas Tech, 7.24; 2. Iyana Gray, TCU, 7.32; 3. Rajer Gurode, Sam Houston State, 7.37; 4. Adriane Nwonumah, Texas Tech, 7.44.

5,000: 1. Damaris Chewon, New Mexico JC, 17:40.73; 2. Peyton McQuillan, TCU, 17:52.11; 3. Lexi Maul, West Texas A&M, 17:59.73; 4. Taylor Limbaugh, Texas Tech, 18:16.80.

200 B section: 1. Marianne Barber, BYU, 24.14; 2. Samarra Monrroy, TCU, 24.42; 3. Dejona Simpson, New Mexico JC, 24.57.

1,000: 1. Letlhogonolo Magoro, New Mexico JC, 2:59.78; 2. Vanessa Gallegos, New Mexico JC, 3:03.97; 3. Minankolo Magassa, New Mexico JC, 3:07.18; 4. Rushell Johnson, Western Texas, 3:09.42; 5. Teresa Gallegos, Western Texas, 3:14.19.

600 yards: 1. Sylvia Schulz, Texas Tech, 1:21.48; 2. Lexye Price, Texas Tech, 1:22.85; 3. Calisha Taylor, New Mexico JC, 1:23.12; 6. Rushana Dwyer, South Plains, 1:23.74.

Mile: 1. Joy Gill, Incarnate Word, 4:59.79; 2. Faith Bett, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 5:01.63; 3. London Culbreath, TCU, 5:02.21; 4. Hannah Spears, Texas Tech, 5:03.64.

200: 1. Rosemary Chukwuma, Texas Tech, 22.82 (school record; old record, Cierra White, 22.90 in March 2015); 2. Iyana Gray, TCU, 23.54; 3. Success Umukoro, South Plains, 23.78; 4. Kiah Dubarry-Gay, Texas Tech, 23.92; 5. Le-Taija Jackson, Texas Tech, 23.98.

3,000: 1. Mariana Martinez, TCU, 10:24.91; 2. Sharon Kiprop, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 10:30.11; 3. Macie Ellis, Sam Houston State, 10:33.37.

1,660 relay: 1. BYU, 3:39.40; 2. Texas Tech (Zariere Dumas, Lexye Price, Sylvia Schulz, Torrye Tyler), 3:39.82; 3. TCU, 3:41.12.

MEN

Field Events

Pole vault B section: 1. Kyle Sieracki, Incarnate Word, 16-1 1/4; 2. Dalton Smith, New Mexico Junior College, 16-1 1/4; 3. Jonah Ulbricht, Incarnate Word, 15-7 1/4; 5. Django Segovia, South Plains, 15-7 1/4.

Weight throw: 1. Jacob Mechler, Texas Tech, 69-0 1/2; 2. Konner Wood, Texas Tech, 63-3 1/2; 3. Bryce Spencer, Lubbock Christian University, 61-1 1/2; 5. Chris Samaniego, Texas Tech, 59-11 1/4.

Weight throw B section: 1. Danny Bryant, Brigham Young, 60-6; 2. Charles Gaither, South Plains, 57-2; 3. Luke Holcombe, West Texas A&M, 55-0 1/4.

Long jump: 1. Elisha Teneus-Claude, South Plains, 24-3; 2. Patrick Sylla, TCU, 23-11 1/2; 3. Jaren Holmes, TCU, 23-9.

Long jump B section: 1. Derrick Warren, Sam Houston State, 23-8 3/4; 2. Harry Crosby, South Plains, 23-4; 3. Donovan Ramirez, Abilene Christian, 23-2; 6. Angelo Bowser, South Plains, 22-7 3/4.

Triple jump: 1. Jaren Holmes, TCU, 53-5; 2. Theophilus Mudzengerere, TCU, 51-5; 3. Gabriele Tosti, Tarleton State, 50-2; 6. Kevin Washington, LCU, 49-2 1/2.

Pole vault: 1. Zach Bradford, Texas Tech, 18-10 3/4; 2. Caleb Witsken, BYU, 18-3; 3. Logan Fraley, Texas Tech, 17-1; 6. Warren Miller, Texas Tech, 17-1.

Shot put B section: 1. Donroy Brown, South Plains, 54-0 1/2; 2. Dominykas Cepys, Sam Houston State, 52-1 1/4; 3. Kyler Van Grouw, TCU, 49-9 1/4.

High jump: 1. Cayden Butler, LCU, 6-7 1/2; 2. Alan Palmer, Tarleton State, 6-7 1/2; 3. Jamariyan Howlett, Tarleton State, 6-7 1/2.

Shot put: 1. Tyler Richardson, Abilene Christian, 59-5 1/2; 2. Danny Bryant, BYU, 56-3 1/4; 3. Luke Holcombe, West Texas A&M, 55-7; 6. Chris Samaniego, Texas Tech, 52-6 1/2.

Running Events

800 meters: 1. Kimar Farquharson, South Plains, 1 minute, 47.04 seconds; 2. Takieddine Hedeilli, unattached, 1:47.84; 3. Mehmet Celik, South Plains, 1:47.90; 4. Marco Vilca, Texas Tech, 1:48.06; 5. Chevonne Hall, South Plains, 1:49.55; 6. Aron Tanui, South Plains, 1:50.22.

400: 1. Donald Chiyangwa, New Mexico JC, 46.23; 2. Josh Taylor, BYU, 46.25; 3. Trey Jackson, BYU, 46.36; 4. Jeremy Bembridge, South Plains, 46.40; 5. Hossam Hatib, South Plains, 46.63.

60 hurdles: 1. Antoine Andrews, Texas Tech, 7.59 (school record; old record, Omo Osaghae, 7.60 in March 2010); 2. Taylor Rooney, unattached (Texas Tech), 7.77; 3. Tyrin Lewis, unattached, 7.79; 4. Justin Guy, South Plains, 7.80.

60: 1. Cameron Crowe, Incarnate Word, 6.60; 2. Courtney Lindsey, Texas Tech, 6.61; 3. Corin Burns, Incarnate Word, 6.68; 6. James Dadzie, Western Texas, 7.06.

5,000: 1. Tomas Vega, New Mexico JC, 14:54.96; 2. German Vega, New Mexico JC, 14:56.16; 3. Samuel Ashley, unattached (Texas Tech), 14:59.40.

200 B section: 1. Donnie James, TCU, 21.35; 2. Tyriq Brunn, Sam Houston State, 21.59; 3. Gregory Sholars, TCU, 21.61; 6. Nathaniel Luna, LCU, 21.77.

1,000: 1. Mehmet Celik, South Plains, 2:22.88; 2. Aron Tanui, South Plains, 2:23.36; 3. Chevonne Hall, South Plains, 2:26.60; 6. Jeremiah Rodriquez, Western Texas, 2:36.92.

600 yards: 1. Oskar Edlund, Texas Tech, 1:10.74; 2. Dyimond Walker, New Mexico JC, 1:11.02; 3. DeSean Boyce, Western Texas, 1:11.94; 5. Christian Francisco, South Plains, 1:12.07; 6. Adrian Nethersole, Western Texas, 1:12.16.

Mile: 1. Paul Sherrill, unattached (Texas Tech), 4:13.58; 2. Kirk Zuber, unattached (Texas Tech), 4:13.68; 3. Butare Rugenerwa, West Texas A&M, 4:14.63.

200: 1. Adam Clayton, Texas Tech, 20.72; 2. Keontae Gaines, South Plains, 20.87; 3. Karayme Bartley, Puma (formerly Texas Tech), 20.91; 5. Gregory Prince, South Plains, 21.00.

3,000: 1. Griffin Neal, Incarnate Word, 8:28.36; 2. Alexandre Fetizon, Incarnate Word, 8:39.61; 3. Matthew Maki, unattached (Texas Tech), 8:39.81; 5. Isaac Hernandez, unattached (Texas Tech), 8:41.13.

1,600 relay: 1. BYU (Eli Hazlett, Trey Jackson, Spencer Carlile, Josh Taylor), 3:05.73; 2. South Plains, 3:06.48; 3. Texas Tech, 3:06.72; 5. South Plains B, 3:13.11.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech freshman hurdler breaks school record