Three Red Raiders break records in Tech Shootout

The Texas Tech women's school record in the 60 meters had stood for seven years.

Then Rosemary Chukwuma broke it twice in one night.

Five-time all-American Cierra White ran the 60 in a school-record time of 7.22 seconds at a meet in 2015. On Friday's first day of the Texas Tech Shootout, Chukwuma ran it in 7.21 in the first round of competition and then 7.20 in the final.

A transfer from South Plains College, Chukwuma won NJCAA titles as a freshman last year in the 60 and the 200 indoor and in the 100 and the 200 outdoor. When she left SPC, her personal best in the 60 was 7.33.

"When I came in, my coach changed many ... my running form changed. A lot of things," she said. "I'm seeing the results already, so I felt happy."

Tech was joined by teams from 25 other schools this weekend at the Sports Performance Center. Among them were Big 12 rivals Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and future Big 12 foe Brigham Young, which has the nation's ninth-ranked women's team .

Chukwuma's wasn't the only attention-getting performance by the Red Raiders. Demisha Roswell broke the women's school record in the 60-meter hurdles, her time of 8.00 seconds shading the mark of 8.02 that Gabrielle McDonald ran two years ago. Defending NCAA champion Ackera Nugent from Baylor won the race in 7.89.

And in his Texas Tech debut, Moroccan middle-distance runner Zoad Mahafi won the 800 meters in 1 minute, 46.29 seconds, the fastest time in NCAA Division I this season. Mahafi, a graduate student with one year of eligibility, had his choice of track and field powers.

"I've been talking to him for a long time," Tech coach Wes Kittley said. "(Texas) A&M tried to get him. Oregon tried to get him. I've just got a little Moroccan connection, so I knew that he was there, and then he picked me. So I'm so thankful."

Mahafi came back Saturday and won the 1,000 meters in a school-record 2:19.99. The 1,000 is contested at the Big 12 championships, but not at the NCAA meet.

"What's so impressive," Kittley said, "is how easily he sets a pace and just stays on it."

Chukwuma made the Nigerian team for the Olympics last summer, but she and Ruth Usoro, Tech's two-time NCAA champion in the triple jump, were among a group of Nigerian athletes barred from competing for failure to comply with out-of-competition drug testing requirements.

The 10 Nigerian athletes affected were competing on U.S. college teams. They had traveled to Tokyo for the Olympics before the bans were issued.

Kittley blamed the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for not being proactive to make sure its athletes in the U.S. were meeting the requirements: three out-of-competition drug tests in the 10 months preceding a major competition.

"It was frustrating," Chukwuma said, "and we didn't expect what happened there. But we just thank God we went there, they gave us everything we needed and we just came back. So next time we expect to perform well."

Chukwuma transferred to Tech in January, then missed training for two weeks because of COVID. This weekend was the fifth meet of the season for Tech, but only the third for Chukwuma.

"The two times, a 7.21 and a 7.20, she's really coming along," Kittley said. "It's just a shame we didn't have her in the fall. But she's just getting better every week."

On Saturday, the third-ranked Tech men's chances of living up to their ranking at next month's NCAA championships took a major blow.

Tech sprinter Terrence Jones pulled up in the 200 meters. After lying on the ground off the track for several minutes, he was helped away while putting little to no weight on his right leg.

Tech coach Wes Kittley said Jones injured a hamstring and is finished for the indoor season. The Bahamian sprinter recently tied the NCAA record in the 60 with a 6.45, and the 200 is thought to be his better event.

"We had a casualty today that hurt," Kittley said. "But we've still got a really good team and we've got to just keep it together."

There were noteworthy performances in both high-jump competitions. Former Coronado and Tech star Trey Culver cleared 7 feet, 5 3/4 inches, putting him sixth in the world and second in the U.S. this year behind 2021 Olympian JuVaughn Harrison.

Culver won a good competition with Texas A&M-Commerce's Ushan Perera, who topped out at 7-4 1/2, and South Plains College's Kudakwashe Chadenga, who went 7-3 1/4. Chadenga is a freshman from Zimbabwe.

In the women's high jump, Tech's Sidney Sapp continued her strong season, finishing second at 6-1 1/4. Sapp is one of three women who share the NCAA Division I lead at 6-2. The second-year transfer from Wichita State had never cleared 6 feet going into 2022, and now has done so three times in the past four meets.

Tech's Jacolby Shelton won the 200 in a personal record 20.69. The junior from Pearland Dawson came in ranked 10th in Division I and should hold that position.

TEXAS TECH SHOOTOUT

Friday-Saturday

at the Sports Performance Center

WOMEN

Field Events

Weight throw: 1. Alyssa Wilson, Texas State, 73 feet, 3 1/2 inches; 2. Seasons Usual, Texas Tech, 70-5 1/4; 3. Sable Lohmeier, Brigham Young, 65-5 1/2.

Pole vault B section: 1. Cailee Faulkner, Brigham Young, 13-3 1/2; 2. Karlyn Trahan, Northwestern State, 12-7 1/2; 3. Madison Brown, Northwestern State, 12-1 1/2.

Long jump: 1. Ruth Usoro, Texas Tech, 21-6; 2. Alex Madlock, Baylor, 20-7 3/4; 3. Caira Pettway, Baylor, 20-4 1/2.

Weight throw B section: 1. Zada Swoopes, West Texas A&M, 60-7 1/4; 2. Geraldine Udo, Oklahoma, 60-1 3/4; 3. Jessica Thompson, Brigham Young, 59-5 3/4; 4. Field Gatlin, Texas Tech, 58-2; 5. Malin Smith, Texas Tech, 57-2 1/4.

Long jump B section: 1. (tie) Koi Johnson, Baylor, Pippi Lotta Enok, Oklahoma, 18-11 3/4; 3. Taylor Nelloms, West Texas A&M, 18-11 1/4.

Shot put B section: 1. Paige Low, Oklahoma, 50-8; 2. Jessica Thompson, Brigham Young, 50-2 3/4; 3. Field Gatlin, Texas Tech, 48-8 3/4; 6. Baylee Thompson, Texas Tech, 44-5 1/2.

Triple jump: 1. Thea LaFond, unattached, 47-1 1/2; 2. Ruth Usoro, Texas Tech, 44-9 3/4; 3. Mikeisha Welcome, Oklahoma, 43-7 1/4; 4. Brya Brewer, Texas Tech, 43-1 3/4.

Pole vault: 1. Olivia Lueking, Oklahoma, 14-5 1/4; 2. Ariadni Adamopoulou, Oklahoma State, 14-3 1/4; 3. Tuesdi Tidwell, Baylor, 13-11 1/4; 4. Chloe Wall, Texas Tech, 13-11 1/4; 6. Ryleigh Redding, Texas Tech, 13-1 1/2.

High jump: 1. Cierra Tidwell, Brigham Young, 6-1 1/4; 2. Sidney Sapp, Texas Tech, 6-1 1/4; 3. Zarriea Willis, unattached, 5-11 1/2.

Shot put: 1. Payden Montana, Oklahoma, 57-5 3/4; 2. Zada Swoopes, West Texas A&M, 55-4 3/4; 3. Kayli Johnson, Texas Tech, 54-7 1/2; 4. Malin Smith, Texas Tech, 52-1 3/4.

Running Events

400 meters B section: 1. Mariana Shostak, Texas A&M-Commerce, 56.42 seconds; 2. Jordan Brown, West Texas A&M, 56.62; 3. Cemore Donald, South Plains College, 56.70; 5. Anna-Kay Allen, South Plains, 57.04.

800: 1. Jordyn Kaplan, Oklahoma, 2:10.56; 2. Emma Wahlenmaier, Nevada-Las Vegas, 2:10.72; 3. Michaela Lewis, Texas Tech, 2:10.90.

400: 1. Kavia Francis, Baylor, 52.70; 2. Imaobong Nse Uko, Baylor, 53.07; 3. Nashia Jackson, AW1-Elite, 53.42; 6. Aneesa Scott, Texas Tech, 54.52.

60 hurdles: 1. Ackera Nugent, Baylor, 7.89; 2. Demisha Roswell, Texas Tech, 8.00; 3. Alexis Duncan, unattached, 8.30.

60: 1. Rosemary Chukwuma, Texas Tech, 7.20; 2. Caira Pettway, Baylor, 7.28; 3. Sydney Washington, Baylor, 7.30; 6. Kiah Dubarry-Gay, Texas Tech, 7.41.

5,000: 1. Valentina Campos, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 18:29.11; 2. Aminata Kenyawani, Eastern New Mexico, 18:38.97; 3. Sabrina Goains, Incarnate Word, 18:50.02.

200 B section: 1. Argyanna Bolton, Wayland Baptist, 24.76; 2. Brilee Pontius, Brigham Young, 24.76; 3. Maygan Shaw, Northwestern State, 24.76

1,000: 1. Jordyn Kaplan, Oklahoma, 2:53.42; 2. Mazie Larsen, Baylor, 2:59.49; 3. Sancia Smith, Western Texas College, 3:01.66; 5. Rushell Johnson, Western Texas, 3:08.02; 6. Teresa Gallegos, Western Texas, 3:08.83.

600 yards: 1. Lexye Price, Texas Tech, 1:20.42; 2. Sylvia Schulz, Texas Tech, 1:21.54; 3. Tamara Woodley, Oklahoma State, 1:22.29; 6. Cemore Donald, South Plains, 1:24.08.

Mile: 1. Madeline Medina, Oklahoma, 5:01.87; 2. Melodie Leroudier, Northern Colorado, 5:04.38; 3. Quin Johnson, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 5:07.58.

200: 1. Mariah Ayers, Baylor, 23.18; 2. Kiah Dubarry-Gay, Texas Tech, 23.31; 3. Rosemary Chukwuma, Texas Tech, 23.49.

3,000: 1. Alia Henderson, Incarnate Word, 10:16.90; 2. Katie North, Oklahoma State, 10:20.69; 3. Andrea Acuna, Incarnate Word, 10:39.39; 6. Sharon Chumo, Texas Tech, 10:52.08.

1,600 relay: 1. Baylor (Kavia Francis, Imaobong Nse Uko, Gontse Morake, Mariah Ayers), 3:33.86; 2. Texas Tech (Aneesa Scott, Knowledge Omovoh, Nayanna Dubarry-Gay, Lexye Price), 3:35.37; 3. Brigham Young, 3:40.74; 5. Texas Tech B, 3:41.02.

MEN

Field Events

Weight throw: 1. Gabriel Oladipo, Texas Tech, 70 feet, 7 inches; 2. Bayley Campbell, Oklahoma, 64-11 1/2; 3. Jacob Mechler, Texas Tech, 64-9 1/4.

Long jump: 1. Jalen Seals, Texas Tech, 25-1 1/4; 2. Johnny Brackins, Baylor, 24-3 3/4; 3. Abraham Seaneke, West Texas Elites, 24-2 1/2; 4. Chris Welch, Texas Tech, 24-0 3/4.4

Long jump B section: 1. Nikaoli Williams, Northwestern State, 24-3; 2. Nathan Crawford-Wallis, Prairie View A&M, 23-4; 3. Elisha Teneus-Claude, South Plains, 23-0 1/2.

Pole vault B section: 1. Gary Haasbroek, Texas Tech, 16-11; 2. Jacobee Jones, Angelo State, 16-1 1/4; 3. Simon Thor, Texas State, 15-7 1/4.

Weight throw B section: 1. Zac Robbins, Oklahoma State, 62-3 3/4; 2. Sam Mason, Oklahoma State, 60-5 1/4; 3. Bryce Spencer, Lubbock Christian, 57-2 1/4.

Triple jump: 1. Qwazon Al-Khaliq, Northern Colorado, 52-7 1/4; 2. Chris Welch, Texas Tech, 52-2; 3. Nikaoli Williams, Northwestern State, 50-10 3/4.

Shot put B section: 1. Luke Holcombe, West Texas A&M, 54-4; 2. Chris Samaniego, North Texas, 52-2 1/2; 3. Ryan Amador, Texas A&M-Commerce, 51-10; 5. Donroy Brown, South Plains, 50-7 1/4.

High jump: 1. Trey Culver, unattached, 7-5 3/4; 2. Ushan Perera, Texas A&M-Commerce, 7-4 1/2; 3. Kudakwashe Chadenga, South Plains, 7-3 1/4; 5. Jack Scarborough, Texas Tech, 6-10 1/4; 6. Dayvon Williams, South Plains, 6-10 1/4.

Pole vault: 1. Caleb Witsken, Brigham Young, 17-7; 2. Cody Bullard, North Texas, Thomas Nieto, South Plains, Elmer Schutte, Texas A&M-Commerce, 16-7 1/4.

Shot put: 1. Cooper Campbell, Oklahoma, 61-11; 2. Djimon Gumbs, Northwestern State, 60-10 1/2; 3. Gabriel Oladipo. Texas Tech, 59-0 1/4.

Running Events

400 meters B section: 1. Jaylen Barringer, Oklahoma, 48.19 seconds; 2. Spencer Carlile, Brigham Young, 48.34; 3. John Moreno, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 48.60; 4. Keitron Boyd, Lubbock Christian, 48.66.

800: 1. Moad Zahafi, Texas Tech, 1 minute, 46.29 seconds; 2. Marco Vilca, Texas Tech, 1:48.50; 3. Sven Cepus, Texas Tech, 1:48.72; 4. Owen Likins, Texas Tech, 1:49.24; 5. Chevonne Hall, South Plains, 1:50.88.

400: 1. Trey Fields, Baylor, 46.20; 2. Matthew Moorer, Baylor, 46.48; 3. Dillon Bedell, Baylor, 46.83.

60 hurdles: 1. Johnny Brackins, Baylor, 7.77; 2. Jasher Foster, Oklahoma, 7.80; 3. Elijah Morris, Baylor, 7.82; 5. Maliek Kendall, Texas Tech,

60: 1. Demarius Smith, Oklahoma, 6.64; 2. Kie'ave Harry, Northwestern State, 6.65; 3. Daniel Omah, Texas Tech, 6.67

5,000: 1. Alex Spencer, Wayland Baptist, 15:23.59; 2. Kelvin Kipkemboi, Eastern New Mexico, 15:29.85; 3. Luke Estes, unattached (Texas Tech), 15:35.94; 5. Eric Maclean, unattached (Texas Tech), 15:45.91; 6. Bryce Boggs, unattached (Texas Tech), 15.53.99.

5,000 B section: 1. Gustavo Posada, West Texas A&M, 15:38.15; 2. Chris Korir, New Mexico Junior College, 15:56.87; 3. Casey Novelo, Texas A&M-Commerce, 16:01.32; 4. Carlos Barraza, Lubbock Christian, 16:17.94; 6. Colby Sandoval, Lubbock Christian, 16:39.13.

200 B section: 1. Jared Davis, Brigham Young, 21.51; 2. Jeremy Bembridge, South Plains, 21.51; 3. Evan Nafe, Northwestern State, 21.62.

1,000: 1. Moad Zahafi, Texas Tech, 2:19.99; 2. Evan Pololet, New Mexico JC, 2:28.87; 3. Alex Piquart, New Mexico JC, 2:29.17; 5. Reymond Bueno, Wayland Baptist, 2:30.29; 6. Dennis Kiptoo, Wayland Baptist, 2:31.29.

600 yards: 1. Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor, 1:08.41; 2. Chris Robinson, South Plains, 1:09.45; 3. DeJuana McArthur, Oklahoma State, 1:09.99; 4. Kimar Farquharson, South Plains, 1:10.04; 5. Chevonne Hall, South Plains, 1:10.65; 6. Malik Metivier, Texas Tech, 1:10.71.

Mile: 1. Edward Rush, Texas Tech, 4:08.13; 2. Alec Esposito, North Texas, 4:11.11; 3. Pedro Osorio Lopez, Texas State, 4:14.56; 4. Mehdi Yanouri, South Plains, 4:14.70; 5. Kirk Zuber, unattached (Texas Tech), 4:15.00.

200: 1. Jacolby Shelton, Texas Tech, 20.69; 2. Matthew Moorer, Baylor, 20.73; 3. Karayme Bartley, unattached, 20.81; 4. Ashton O'Conner, Texas Tech, 20.94; 5. Adam Clayton, Texas Tech, 21.07.

3,000: 1. Dennis Kipngeno, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 8:28.23; 2. Kelvin Kimaiyo, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 8:28.58; 3. Samuel Ashley, unattached (Texas Tech), 8:32.52.

1,600 relay: 1. Baylor (Dillon Bedell, Matthew Moorer, Jayson Baldridge, Trey Fields), 3:06.09; 2. Brigham Young, 3.09,74; 3. Baylor B, 3:10.50.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: College track and field: 3 Red Raiders break school records in Texas Tech Shootout