News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
GAINESVILLE – The Texas A&M track & field team battled to the last relay on a thrilling final day of the SEC Outdoor Championships Saturday at the James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track.
The Aggie men were in a four-horse race heading into the final event of the championships, as the 4x400m relay was on deck. Texas A&M’s quartet of Jevon O’Bryant, Ja’Qualon Scott, Kimar Farquharson and Auhmad Robinson ran their best time of the season, crossing the line in 3:00.38 to finish fourth in the event. The Maroon & White men finished third in the team standings with 103.5 points, half a point back from Alabama and only 6.5 points behind champions Arkansas. The women’s program secured a fourth-place team result, as they logged 74 points over the three-day meet.
Sam Whitmarsh claimed the Aggies fifth title of the championships, as he secured his sweep of the SEC 800m indoor and outdoor titles following a dominant run leading from start to finish crossing the line in 1:45.27. Caden Norris also finished fourth in the event with a personal-best time of 1:47.13 which also moved him up to No. 10 on the A&M all-time performers list, while Farquharson placed fifth in 1:47.62.
Medals came thick and fast on the day, as the standout hurdle tandem of Scott and Connor Schulman finished 2-3 in the 110m hurdle event. Scott claimed his second individual silver medal of the year in the SEC short hurdle events in a time of 13.40, Schulman followed right behind, also claiming his second SEC individual medal this season finishing in 13.49 for bronze. On the women’s side of the event, Jaiya Covington had her best finish in a conference final coming home fifth in 13.05.
In the field, Lamara Distin added a bronze medal to her every-growing tally of accolades, as she finished third in the high jump with a leap of 1.89m/6-2.25. Jack Mann III ensured his fourth-straight conference meet with a medal, placing third in the pole vault matching his personal best mark of 5.40m/17-8.5.
Eric Casarez put it all on the line in the men’s 5,000m, downing his own school record by over two seconds in a fifth-place finish as he crossed the line in 13:40.16. Cooper Cawthra also had a great day in the men’s 1500m event, dropping over five seconds from his qualification time placing fourth in 3:43.65.
The Aggies had another five individual scorers on the track on the final day. Bryce McCray had his best outing of the season in the men’s 400m hurdles, jumping from ninth to fourth in the final with a time of 49.76. Nissi Kabongo finished strong to add two points to the team total on the women’s side of the 400m hurdles after placing seventh. Robinson and O’Bryant both scored in the men’s 400m, as they finished fifth (45.05) and seventh (45.74), respectively. Jermaisha Arnold wrapped up the individual scorers on the track with her seasons best time in the women’s 400m, crossing the line in 50.80 for sixth.
Wrapping up scoring in the field, Abigail Martin placed fourth overall, and first among conference freshman, in the women’s discus. She recorded a mark of 56.06m/183-11 to claim five points for the team. Kabongo also added points in the field with a fifth-place finish in the high jump, while Connor Gregston added 1.5 points to the team total in the men’s pole vault, clearing his first-three bars on the first attempt to tie for seventh.
The women’s team added a pair of scoring relays as the 4x400m group consisting of Kennedy Wade, Jaydan Wood, Camryn Dickson and Arnold finished sixth in 3:29.59, while the 4×100 quartet of Semira Killebrew, Dickson, Leeah Burr and Laila Hackett placed seventh in 44.07.
At the conclusion of the championships, the Aggies secured 10 medals, five gold, two silver and three bronze, along with three all-time marks, a school record and 13 personal-best showings.
Coach’s Quotes
Head coach Pat Henry on the team’s performance at the SEC Outdoor Championships …
“I’m extremely proud of our group’s performance this weekend. I thought we competed extremely well and were right in the mix on the final day. We had people step up all over the track and it came down to an extremely competitive final relay in a great atmosphere.”
Up Next
The Aggies hit the road again, as they travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA West Preliminary Round May 22-25.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.