Igbokwe Shoots to No. 1 in the World in 400

Friday, February 8

Clemson, S.C.

All Day

University of Houston

Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational

2/8/2019 6:51:00 PM | Track and Field

Senior sprinter clocks the second-fastest 400 in Houston history

CLEMSON, S.C. – Houston's Obi Igbokwe shot atop the world leaderboard in the 400-meter dash with a blistering time of 45.35 Friday in the first of two days of action at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational.

Igbokwe's time is the second fastest in Houston history behind the 45.24 of teammate Kahmari Montgomery's 45.24 from last year's NCAA Indoor Championships. The time is a personal best for Igbokwe who made his 400 debut for Houston after transferring from Arkansas.

The time is the 31st fastest in world history and the 21st fastest in American history.

Running in heats against time, Montgomery finished just behind Igbokwe, clocking a season best of 45.74 to finish fourth overall with the event's top four times registering as the top four in the nation this season.

Running in the invitational 400, Igbokwe was one three Houston athletes to claim a title Friday as Trumaine Jefferson (long jump) and Jermaine Holt (open 400-meter dash) also took wins.

Jefferson made it a dramatic win as he took the long jump title on his sixth and final jump with a mark of 25-6.25 (7.78). After entering the finals of the event in second, Jefferson, who owns The American Athletic Conference's top mark this season, claimed his second straight long jump title, having won the event at the Houston Invitational on Jan. 26.

Holt shaved over sixth-tenths off his PR with a time of 46.65 to claim the 400-meter dash open title. The time is the fifth-fastest time in Houston history and moves Holt to No. 3 on The American's performance list this season and to No. 18 in the nation.

Mario Burke tied his season-best time of 6.58 in the 60-meter dash to finish second in the event. Burke, who ranks fourth nationally in the event, trailed only the nation's No. 2 athlete in NC State's Cravont Charleston who clocked a 6.54 Friday. Burke advanced to the finals with an automatic qualifier after winning his semifinal heat with a time of 6.61.

The men's distance medley relay closed out action on the track Friday night with a second-place finish. The time of 10:09.34 moves Houston to No. 2 on The American's performance list this season.

In the men's shot put, Felipe Valencia extended his lead in The American with a top throw Friday of 60-8.50 (18.50) to finish fifth overall.

Naomi Taylor clocked the top 60-meter hurdles time in The American this season, tying a PR of 8.26 to finish ninth overall. Taylor advanced out of the qualifying round by winning her heat with a time of 8.33, tying her season best entering the weekend.

UP NEXT
Houston closes out the weekend Saturday with a contingent of student-athletes at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C.

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