By: Jonathon Zenk, Assistant Director of Communications
LUBBOCK, Texas—The runners stole the show on day one of the Corky Classic on Friday on the campus of Texas Tech to open the indoor season.
Tavis Wilson, a senior, broke his personal best not once, but twice, in the 60-meter dash, while the trio of
Maygan Shaw,
Tranasia Jones and
Margaret Conteh all finished in the top 23 in a loaded field in the women's 400-meter dash.
In the first round in the 60-meters, Wilson ran a 6.74 to place 15
th out of 76 finishers. He was one of two Demons to qualify for the semifinals, as he was joined by newcomer
Tajae Francis, who ran a 6.80 to place 22
nd. The top 24 advanced to the semis.
Kason Jones also added an indoor personal best, clocking a 6.90 to finish in 48
th.
If that wasn't enough for Wilson, he did one better in the semis. While he narrowly missed out on the finals, as the top eight advanced, Wilson ran a 6.72 to place 10
th out of the 23 finishers.
"It was a solid day," head coach
Mike Heimerman said. "The 400-meter group did very well, every one of them, men and women. It's impressive because we do not get to practice on an indoor banked track. It's a totally different race than on an outdoor track. Our hurdlers did very well. I am very pleased with everyone today.
"We are not where we need to be, but after the last couple of weeks of poor weather to train in and coming off of Christmas break on top of that, I'm happy."
On the women's side in the 60-meter dash,
Dynia Lewis led the way with a time of 7.67 to place 51
st.
Kahliyah Anderson ran a personal-best 7.86.
In the women's 400-meters, Shaw ran a 54.26 to place 12
th out of 56, pacing the three Demons. Jones ran an indoor personal-best 55.12 to place 18
th and Conteh clocked a 55.42.
On the men's side in the 400, three posted indoor collegiate bests, led by newcomer
Vincente Graiani, who clocked a 47.90 to place 29
th.
In his first collegiate race, freshman
William Achee ran a 48.52 to finish 45
th, one spot ahead of
Desmond Duncan, who ran an indoor personal-best 48.56. Senior
Robert Norton ran an indoor personal-best 50.80 to finish 68
th.
The day began for Northwestern State with the 60-meter hurdles, as newcomer
Dishaun Lamb qualified for the semifinals, running an 8.05, which tied him for 20
th out of 57 finishers.
In his collegiate debut, freshman
Bruce Boon ran an 8.76, while
Tim Pelkmans clocked an 8.50 for 38
th place.
On the women's side in the 60-meter hurdles, Lewis qualified for the semifinals by running an 8.69 in her first race with Northwestern State to place 22
nd.
Raven-Symone Jarrett (8.78) and
Silet Gray (9.02) each ran personal bests, finishing 34
th and 44
th, respectively.
In the semifinals, Lewis placed 20
th with a time of 8.71.
In the field events, a pair posted indoor personal bests in the women's long jump, led by
Samari Finney, who recorded a 19-7 on her first attempt to place fifth.
Jaslyn Smith jumped an indoor personal-best18-3.75 to finish 18
th out of the 29 competitors.
On the men's side,
Roy Morris placed seventh in his first collegiate meet, posting a 23-2.
Tim Pelkmans finished 13
th, jumping 21-11.5.
Madison Brown cleared 12-4 in the pole vault, close to her indoor personal best, to finish 18
th.
In the women's weight throw,
Bernesha Knowles tossed a 52-3.25 to finish sixth out of the 15 throwers, while Shanice Hudson tossed a 48-6.25 to finish 11
th in her first meet as a Demon.
On the men's side,
Tarajh Hudson (51-1) and newcomer
Abner Johnson (49-7.75) both made it to the finals, placing seventh and eighth, respectively.
The teams are back for the second and final day at the Corky Classic on Saturday, starting with the women's shot put and the women's 200-meter dash, beginning at 11 a.m.