The Meet: 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays
Where: Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas
Dates: Wednesday, March 23 through Saturday, March 26
Streaming Platform: Longhorn Network on ESPN+
ABOUT THE TEXAS RELAYS
The brightest lights in amateur track and field and true pageantry of the sport belong to Tarleton this week.
The historic event is the second-largest track and field meet in the United States, as more than 7,000 high school, college and professional athletes are expected to touch down on Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Tarleton has 19 athletes – 10 men and nine women – entered in the University/College Division. The Texans will race in both the women's 4x100m and 4x400m relays as well as the men's 4x400m relay. A select group of athletes are set to compete in hurdles, the 100m dash and long jump as well.
The trip south is a chance for Tarleton to take aim at the biggest Division I names and programs. The Texas Relays will feature both 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Champions in the Texas men and Florida women as well as perennial top-10 programs in Arkansas, Georga, Kentucky, LSU and TCU.
Though the meet is just the second on a two-month march toward the Western Athletic Conference Championships, it's a tone-setter for the remainder of Tarleton's outdoor season.
That much was evidenced by the program's 2021 showing. Tarleton's men's 4x400m relay team notched the program's fastest time in the last four years (3:12.14) en route to a sixth-place finish in the finals. The Texans' women's 4x100m team clocked their second-fastest time of the season in 47.02 seconds. From there, Tarleton went on to win the WAC men's 4x400m relay championship and seven of the 11 athletes who competed in Austin earned all-conference first or second team accolades.
The University/College Division portion of the meet starts on Wednesday with the first half of the decathlon and heptathlon. Thursday's full-day slate includes the conclusion of both multi-event competitions, prelims for the 400m hurdles and finals in a group of field events as well as the Distance Carnival. Friday features prelims for the 100m dash, 110m hurdles and both relays, finals in the 400m hurdles and a smattering of prelims and finals in the field. Saturday concludes the four-day circuit with timed finals in sprints, hurdles and relays.
COMPETING FOR TARLETON
The action officially starts for Tarleton at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday with the 400m hurdles. Ashlynn Cash and Kyndal Gladson kick things off in the women's race while Brady Sisneroz and Joey Ortiz-Martinez will follow in the men's competition.
Cash notched a lifetime personal record on Saturday at the ACU Wes Kittley Invitational (1:06.71) and ranks eighth in the WAC.
Gladson, a sophomore heptathlete, is racing in the event for the first time. She is coming off a strong showing in Abilene. Gladson took third place in the long jump with a leap of 18' 8", notched a personal record of 16.14 seconds in the 100m hurdles and raced in the 4x400m relay.
Sisneroz, who competed in the event in Austin as a freshman in 2021, is coming off the best 400m hurdles performance of his life. He crossed the finish line at ACU in 54.89 seconds to move to third on the WAC Outdoor Performance List, 11th in the NCAA South Central Region and 60th among all D1 athletes.
Ortiz-Martinez owns a lifetime personal record of 54.66 seconds and placed seventh at the 2021 WAC Outdoor Championships.
Friday morning is the busiest portion of the meet for Tarleton, The Texans will be represented in seven events by 15 athletes, beginning with the women's 4x100m relay at 9:35 a.m.
Tarleton is debuting its 4x100m crew of Nyla Barlow, Hanna Dudley, Breonna Campbell and Summer Croxton. The contingent is among the fastest in the WAC. Barlow owns the top 200m dash time (24.08 seconds) in the conference and is Tarleton's indoor school record holder in the event. Dudley currently ranks fourth and sixth, respectively, among her conference peers in the 100m (11.91 seconds) and 200m (24.55 seconds). Campbell, a freshman, is ninth in the WAC in the 200m. Croxton turned in lifetime personal records of 12.24 seconds in the 100m and 24.99 seconds in the 200m at ACU.
Alan Palmer then begins his defense of the WAC outdoor long jump crown at 10 a.m. The senior boasts a lifetime personal record of 25' 2" and is Tarleton's indoor school record holder.
Prelims for the 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 100m dash and 4x400m relays follow the 4x100m relays and will operate on a rolling schedule that is expected to conclude early in the afternoon.
Khloe Turnbull is entered for Tarleton in the 100m hurdles. She turned in a time of 14.89 seconds at ACU and concluded her freshman indoor season by notching a 60m hurdles time of 8.92 seconds to move to second in school history in the event.
Sullivan Sanders and Konnor Hoerman will do the honors for the Texans in the 110m hurdles. Sanders' lifetime personal record is 14.94 seconds. He concluded his junior year in 2021 by claiming seventh place at the WAC Outdoor Championships. Hoerman, a freshman, debuted in the event at ACU with a time of 15.44 seconds.
Following the hurdles, reigning WAC Indoor Freshman of the Year Justin Raines makes his highly-anticipated debut in the 100m dash. The Copperas Cove native has only competed in three collegiate meets but has already ascended into the echelon of all-time great athletes to sprint in Stephenville. Raines became the first WAC indoor champion in school history in February when he won the 60m dash and broke Tarleton's school record in 6.71 seconds. He earned another set of All-WAC first team credentials by placing third in the 60m hurdles in 8.01 seconds. On Saturday at ACU, Raines clocked the second-fastest 200m time in the WAC (21.33 seconds) and was Tarleton's top performer in the 110m hurdles (14.67 seconds).
The day wraps up with both 4x400m relays.
On the women's side, Barlow will lead off for Tarleton before handing the baton to Jordan Anglin. Dudley is set to run the third leg while King will anchor. The quartet owns Tarleton's indoor school record (3:47.78) and claimed fourth place at the WAC Indoor Championships in February. Anglin and King are coming off impressive performances in the 400m at ACU. Anglin notched a season personal record of 56.78 seconds and occupies the No. 3 spot on the WAC Outdoor Performance List. King ran a lifetime personal record of 57.52 seconds and ranks fifth in the conference.
The men are trotting out a relay team comprised of Brandon McKissick, Bailey Smotek, Reid Vincent and Zach Martinez. It will be the third time they have raced together. The foursome won their heat at ACU and earned all-conference second team honors at the WAC Indoor Championships when they took sixth place in 3:15.89. McKissick and Martinez both raced on Tarleton's 4x400m relay team at the 2021 Texas Relays. McKissick and Smotek rank third and fifth, respectively, in the WAC in the 400m with season personal records of 48.21 seconds and 49.29 seconds.
Finals for Friday's events begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
MEET COVERAGE
Fans can purchase tickets at TexasLonghorns.com. The Longhorn Network will provide a live stream for each day of competition. The meet is also available to watch on ESPN+ and the ESPN app for fans with a subscription to the LHN from an affiliated partner. Live results can be accessed through PrimeTime Timing at pttiming.com. Visit the track and field schedule page on TarletonSports.com for links to the broadcast, live results, a meet schedule and heat sheets.
LAST TIME OUT: ACU WES KITTLEY INVITATIONAL
Tarleton debuted in style in its third consecutive outdoor season-opener at ACU. The Texans placed seven athletes in the top-three of individual events, turned in 10 top-five individual finishes and saw 32 athletes finish in the top-10 of at least one event.
The Texans' prowess in the high jump and triple jump was on full display.
In the high jump, Rylee Hennig tied for first in the women's competition with a leap of 5' 5.75" and currently occupies the top spot on the WAC Outdoor Performance List. Hennig currently ranks 43rd among all high jumpers on the NCAA Division I Outdoor Qualifying List. For the men, Jamariyan Howlett cleared 6' 7.5" to place fourth. The freshman ranks second in the WAC, eighth in the South Central region and 35th nationally. Behind Howlett was Kyler Seymore, who jumped 6' 5.5" to notch a lifetime personal record and move to fourth in the WAC.
Over in the sand pit, Nakia Dunn placed third in the triple jump (38' 3.25) while Jaden Hall took fourth in the men's competition behind a lifetime personal record of 47' 3.75". Both athletes are ranked in the top-30 of the NCAA D1 South Central Outdoor Performance List and top-90 of the NCAA D1 Outdoor Qualifying List.
Jenna Brazeal was the highest-placing finisher in running events, as she claimed second place in the 800m in 2:16.55.
Elise Smith was Tarleton's top performer in throwing events, as the two-sport athlete finished second and moved to fourth in the WAC in the javelin behind a throw of 137' 6".
UP NEXT: DAVID NOBLE RELAYS AND BAYLOR INVITATIONAL
Tarleton is competing in two meets next week. The Texans are traveling their multi-event athletes to San Angelo for the David Noble Relays on March 31 and Apr. 1. A full group of athletes then head to Waco on Apr. 2 for the Baylor Invitational.
TEXANS AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE
Oscar Frazier Memorial Track is home to a select group of athletes who are among the best amateur competitors in the country in their respective events. Tarleton has 12 athletes featured in the top-100 of the NCAA DI Outdoor Qualifying List as of March 22.
Men
200m
78. Justin Raines – 21.33 seconds
400m
60. Brandon McKissick – 48.21 seconds
110m Hurdles
90. Justin Raines – 14.67 seconds
400m Hurdles
60. Brady Sisneroz – 54.89 seconds
High Jump
35. Jamariyan Howlett – 6' 7.5"
68. Kyler Seymore – 6' 5.5"
Triple Jump
52. Jaden Hall – 47' 3.75"
Women
100m
96. Hanna Dudley – 11.91 seconds
200m
63. Nyla Barlow – 24.08 seconds
400m
96. Jordan Anglin – 56.78 seconds
High Jump
43. Rylee Hennig – 5' 5.75"
98. Gentrye Munden – 5' 3.75"
Triple Jump
86. Nakia Dunn – 38' 3.25"
Javelin
79. Elise Smith – 137' 6"
ACROSS THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
The Texans have 23 athletes – 12 men and 11 women – ranked in the top-30 of the NCAA D1 South Central Region Outdoor Performance List in at least one individual event as of March 22.
Men
200m
29. Justin Raines – 21.33 seconds
400m
16. Brandon McKissick – 48.21 seconds
1,500m
24. Kevin Baez – 3:59.55
110m Hurdles
19. Justin Raines – 14.67 seconds
29. Sullivan Sanders – 15.05 seconds
400m Hurdles
11. Brady Sisneroz – 54.89 seconds
26. Joey Ortiz-Martinez – 57.52 seconds
High Jump
8. Jamariyan Howlett – 6' 7.5"
14. Kyler Seymore – 6' 5.5"
29. Maxon Newell – 6' 1.5"
Triple Jump
14. Jaden Hall – 47' 3.75"
Discus
19. Oscar Rodriguez – 160' 0"
Hammer Throw
25. Oscar Rodriguez – 160' 8"
Javelin
18. Ben Presley – 163' 2"
Women
100m
22. Hanna Dudley – 11.91 seconds
200m
18. Nyla Barlow – 24.08 seconds
30. Hanna Dudley – 24.55 seconds
400m
20. Jordan Anglin – 56.78 seconds
30. Alessa King – 57.52 seconds
800m
15. Jenna Brazeal – 2:16.55
1,500m
27. Jenna Brazeal – 4:45.13
400m Hurdles
22. Karleigh Hill – 1:05.51
High Jump
5. Rylee Hennig – 5' 5.75"
16. Gentrye Munden – 5' 3.75"
Long Jump
18. Kyndal Gladson – 18' 8"
Triple Jump
21. Nakia Dunn – 38' 3.25"
Javelin
18. Elise Smith – 137' 6"
BEST IN THE WAC
Tarleton is featured prominently across the top-10 of the WAC Outdoor Performance List one week into the outdoor season.
Men
200m
2. Justin Raines – 21.33 seconds
10. Mikel Stone – 21.91 seconds
400m
3. Brandon McKissick – 48.21 seconds
5. Bailey Smotek – 49.29 seconds
1,500m
10. Kevin Baez – 3:59.55
110m Hurdles
7. Justin Raines – 14.67 seconds
9. Sullivan Sanders – 15.05 seconds
400m Hurdles
3. Brady Sisneroz – 54.89 seconds
High Jump
2. Jamariyan Howlett – 6' 7.5"
4. Kyler Seymore – 6' 5.5"
9. Maxon Newell – 6' 1.5"
Triple Jump
2. Jaden Hall – 47' 3.75"
Shot Put
10. Ethan Bratton – 47' 1.75"
Discus
5. Oscar Rodriguez – 160' 0"
Hammer Throw
9. Oscar Rodriguez – 160' 8"
Javelin
7. Ben Presley – 163' 2"
Women
100m
4. Hanna Dudley – 11.91 seconds
10. Nyla Barlow – 12.10 seconds
200m
1. Nyla Barlow – 24.08 seconds
6. Hanna Dudley – 24.55 seconds
9. Breonna Campbell – 24.82 seconds
400m
3. Jordan Anglin – 56.78 seconds
5. Alessa King – 57.52 seconds
6. Brenna Lee – 58.91 seconds
8. Macie Evans – 59.32 seconds
800m
5. Jenna Brazeal – 2:16.55 seconds
400m Hurdles
7. Karleigh Hill – 1:05.71
High Jump
1. Rylee Hennig – 5' 5.75"
5. Gentrye Munden – 5' 3.75"
Pole Vault
7. Allison Robling – 10' 11.75"
Long Jump
5. Kyndal Gladson – 18' 8"
10. Nakia Dunn – 17' 9.6"
Triple Jump
5. Nakia Dunn – 38' 3.25"
Javelin
4. Elise Smith – 137' 6"
