Credit to Sam Thornton | Assistant Director, Athletics Communications – 12thman.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Texas A&M track & field team wrapped up competition at the Razorback Invitational at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track with a program record in the men’s mile and a 1-2 finish in the men’s 60m hurdles.
Cooper Cawthra broke the second program record of the meet for the Aggies, as the junior ran the second-ever sub-four minute mile (3:59.05) in program history. He downed the previous record which was set by Alex Riba in 2018 (3:59.12). Ondrej Gajdos also set a personal best time in the event (4:02.62), as he moved from No. 12 to No. 8 on the all-time performers list with the ninth-best performance in program history.
Connor Schulman and Ja’Qualon Scott dominated the men’s 60m hurdles, as the duo secured a 1-2 finish in the event and were separated by one one-thousandth of a second. The pair each logged personal best times, with Schulman finishing in 7.672 and Scott 7.673. Schulman remains at No. 3 on the all-time performers list, while Scott now joins him at that spot. They are also now tied for fourth in the nation for the event this season.
The Aggies continued to stand out in the center of the oval, as Semira Killebrew ran a blistering 7.211 in the women’s 60m to finish fourth in the event, and tied teammate Camryn Dickson as the No. 2 all-time performer in the event. Jaiya Covington continued her impressive season in the women’s 60m hurdles, as she made her third-consecutive final to start the season, and ended the day fifth (8.25). Auhmad Robinson led the men’s 400m group, as the junior finished second in the event in a season-best time of 46.15.
Ryley Klefstad highlighted the field events, as the freshman crushed his personal best in the men’s pole vault with a clearance of 5.25m/17-2.75 to finish fourth. Jade Johnson had another good day in the jumps, leaping 12.48m/40-11.5 in the triple jump for a seventh-place finish.
Bailey Goggans had a career day in the women’s 800m, placing seventh in a personal best time of 2:03.83. This moved her up one spot on the all-time performers list to No. 4, she now owns the 10th-best performance in school history in the event. On the men’s side Kimar Farquharson made his season debut in the event, jumping immediately to No. 7 all-time as he finished sixth in 1:47.81.
Landon Helms concluded his heptathlon campaign, as the sophomore set a new personal best total of 5,494 points. He set five personal bests during the heptathlon, including the long jump, high jump, shot put, 1,000m and event total.
Victor Kibiego was the final performer to crack the top-12 all-time performer list of the meet, as he finished the men’s 3,000m in 8:05.60 to debut at No. 4.
Coach’s Quotes
Head coach Pat Henry on Cooper Cawthra’s program record in the mile…
“To run 3:59.05 is a huge performance, not too long ago that would get you a statue built, he was great today. Then Ondrej [Gajdos] also in the mile running 4:02.62 was great and I’m pleased with that group.”
Coach Henry on the team’s overall performance at the Razorback Invitational…
“We had some great things happen this weekend. Heather Abadie on the first day with 4.38m/14-4.5 in the high jump is big time. Then Connor [Schulman] and Ja’Qualon [Scott] proving they’re two of the best hurdlers in the country and they’re only going to get better.”
Coach Henry on other standout performances on day two…
“Bailey Goggans and Kimar Farquharson in the 800m I thought did really well. Auhmad Robinson running 46.15 right now is impressive. Semira Killebrew also continues to be consistent and I tell her that if you remain consistent something really good will happen.”
Next Up
The Aggies return home to host their final home meet of the indoor season at the R.A. “Murray” Fasken ’38 Indoor Track & Field facility Feb. 2-3.