Friday, March 8
Birmingham, Ala.
5:30 p.m.
University of Houston
vs
NCAA Indoor Championships
Photo by: VASHA HUNT
Jefferson Claims Silver at NCAA Championships
3/8/2019 9:13:00 PM | Track and Field
Houston men pick up eight team points from Jefferson while qualifying all five sprinters
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Houston's Trumaine Jefferson claimed silver in the long jump Friday in the first of two days at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, giving Houston a huge eight points in the men's team race.
In addition to Jefferson's silver, the Houston men sent all five of the program's qualifying entries on to Saturday finals as Amere Lattin (60-meter hurdles), Kahmari Montgomery (400-meter dash), Obi Igbokwe (200- & 400-meter dash) and Mario Burke (60-meter dash) all advanced from Friday competition.
Jefferson's eight points and the five qualifying spots in the sprints, in addition to Houston's No. 1 ranked 4x400-meter relay, place the Houston men squarely in the team race. Houston and Florida tied for the night's best qualifying result, with five runners each advancing to Saturday finals.
On the women's side, Naomi Taylor advanced in the 60-meter hurdles while Samiyah Samuels earned first-team All-America honors by finishing eighth in the long jump and Brianne Bethel earned second-team All-America honors with a 10th-place finish in the 200-meter dash.
With Samuels' team point and Taylor advancing to the final, the Houston women will score in an NCAA Indoor Championship for the first time since 2010. The Cougars will also look for Taylor Scaife, ranked No. 4 in the nation in the weight throw, to potentially pick up points on Saturday.
Held at the same location of Houston's American Athletic Conference team title sweep on Feb. 22-23, the Birmingham CrossPlex, Saturday's action will stream live on ESPN3 starting at 4 p.m. CT here. A re-air of the championship will take place starting at 9 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN2 and again Monday starting at 9 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
Jefferson got off to a great start Friday as he eclipsed his PR by two inches on his first attempt with a mark of 25-10.75 (7.89). The jump allowed the senior to move up to No. 4 on Houston's all-time long jump list.
The PR would only last four more attempts as Jefferson extended it to 26-1.50 (7.96) and jumped from fourth to second with a final jump remaining. Jefferson's mark would hold to give the Killeen, Texas, native a spot on the podium and tying his head coach, Leroy Burrell, for the second-best NCAA indoor finish in program history.
Taylor returned to the same track where she captured Houston's 60-meter hurdles record just two weeks ago at The American Championships and lowered her own record with a time of 8.03. The time eclipsed her previous best of 8.08 that was clocked en route to capturing The American's title in the event.
Entering the meet ranked No. 10 in the USTFCCCA rankings, Taylor advanced to the Saturday finals ahead of No. 2 Tiara McMinn (Miami), No. 5 Tonea Marshall (LSU), No. 7 Faith Ross (Kentucky) and No. 8 Cortney Jones (Florida State).
The American's champion in the men's 60-meter hurdles, Lattin clocked a time of 7.74, just off his PR of 7.73 to qualify for Saturday's final on time. Ranked No. 8 entering the event, Lattin moved on ahead of No. 4 Chad Zallow (Youngstown State), No. 5 Michael Nicholls (Georgia) and No. 6 Damien Thomas (LSU).
Houston was the only program to qualify multiple athletes for the final of the men's 400-meter dash as Montgomery, the nation's No. 1 athlete in the nation entering the meet, continued his reign with the fastest time of qualifying at 45.32. The time is the second-fastest qualifying time in NCAA Indoor Championships history.
Igbokwe will join Montgomery in the eight-man final after claiming the final qualifying spot with a time of 46.91. Igbokwe would return to the track 70 minutes later for the prelims of the 200-meter dash where he qualify for his second final by winning his heat with a time of 20.62, the second-fastest time in Houston history, trailing only the 20.02 run by Houston's Elijah Hall to claim the national title at last year's indoor championships.
Running on the same straightaway he claimed The American's title in the 60-meter dash two weeks ago, Burke claimed the win in the first prelim heat of the event, lowering his PR to 6.57, the third-fastest time in Houston history. Burke entered the meet ranked No. 6 in the nation with two athletes ranked ahead of him failing to qualify in No. 2 Cravont Charleston (NC State) and No. 4 Emmanuel Wells (Washington State).
Entering the meet ranked No. 16 in the long jump, Samuels jumped eight spots in the event's final standings to claim Houston's ninth All-America honor in the event and its first since Tai'Shea Reese in 2012. Samuels made a dramatic splash into the finals after fouling her first two attempts before a jump of 20-2.50 (6.16). The junior would improve on her final two jumps, finishing with her best mark of 20-6.50 (6.26) on her sixth and final jump.
The last qualifier for the women's 200-meter dash at No. 16, Bethel climbed six spots in the rankings with a 10th-place finish in a time of 23.30. The junior became the sixth athlete in Houston history to earn All-America honors in the event and the first since Christie Jones in 2011.
Ranked No. 6 in the latest USTFCCCA national rankings, the Houston men accounted for seven entries in the NCAA field. The Cougars are looking to claim back-to-back top-10 finishes at the NCAA Indoor Championships for the first time since 1989-90. Houston finished seventh at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships with 26 points, its first top-10 finish since the program's best indoor finish of fourth in 1996.
Following its first indoor conference title since 2006, the Houston women's program sent a quartet of athletes to Birmingham as the No. 31 team in the USTFCCCA rankings. Fresh off their first indoor conference title since 2006, the Houston women will look to post a point total for the first time since 2010.
UP NEXT
Houston opens its outdoor season when it hosts the Houston Spring Break Invitational on Thursday, March 14. Action at the event is slated to begin with field events at 10 a.m. with running events beginning at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the Track & Field team has established its own official Facebook (facebook.com/UHCougarTF) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarTF).
SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track & Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the UH Track & Field and Cross Country programs for needs beyond their operating budgets. Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the Head Coach.
Houston supporters interested in joining the Podium Club or for more information, please click here.
In addition to Jefferson's silver, the Houston men sent all five of the program's qualifying entries on to Saturday finals as Amere Lattin (60-meter hurdles), Kahmari Montgomery (400-meter dash), Obi Igbokwe (200- & 400-meter dash) and Mario Burke (60-meter dash) all advanced from Friday competition.
Jefferson's eight points and the five qualifying spots in the sprints, in addition to Houston's No. 1 ranked 4x400-meter relay, place the Houston men squarely in the team race. Houston and Florida tied for the night's best qualifying result, with five runners each advancing to Saturday finals.
On the women's side, Naomi Taylor advanced in the 60-meter hurdles while Samiyah Samuels earned first-team All-America honors by finishing eighth in the long jump and Brianne Bethel earned second-team All-America honors with a 10th-place finish in the 200-meter dash.
With Samuels' team point and Taylor advancing to the final, the Houston women will score in an NCAA Indoor Championship for the first time since 2010. The Cougars will also look for Taylor Scaife, ranked No. 4 in the nation in the weight throw, to potentially pick up points on Saturday.
Held at the same location of Houston's American Athletic Conference team title sweep on Feb. 22-23, the Birmingham CrossPlex, Saturday's action will stream live on ESPN3 starting at 4 p.m. CT here. A re-air of the championship will take place starting at 9 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN2 and again Monday starting at 9 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
Jefferson got off to a great start Friday as he eclipsed his PR by two inches on his first attempt with a mark of 25-10.75 (7.89). The jump allowed the senior to move up to No. 4 on Houston's all-time long jump list.
The PR would only last four more attempts as Jefferson extended it to 26-1.50 (7.96) and jumped from fourth to second with a final jump remaining. Jefferson's mark would hold to give the Killeen, Texas, native a spot on the podium and tying his head coach, Leroy Burrell, for the second-best NCAA indoor finish in program history.
Taylor returned to the same track where she captured Houston's 60-meter hurdles record just two weeks ago at The American Championships and lowered her own record with a time of 8.03. The time eclipsed her previous best of 8.08 that was clocked en route to capturing The American's title in the event.
Entering the meet ranked No. 10 in the USTFCCCA rankings, Taylor advanced to the Saturday finals ahead of No. 2 Tiara McMinn (Miami), No. 5 Tonea Marshall (LSU), No. 7 Faith Ross (Kentucky) and No. 8 Cortney Jones (Florida State).
The American's champion in the men's 60-meter hurdles, Lattin clocked a time of 7.74, just off his PR of 7.73 to qualify for Saturday's final on time. Ranked No. 8 entering the event, Lattin moved on ahead of No. 4 Chad Zallow (Youngstown State), No. 5 Michael Nicholls (Georgia) and No. 6 Damien Thomas (LSU).
Houston was the only program to qualify multiple athletes for the final of the men's 400-meter dash as Montgomery, the nation's No. 1 athlete in the nation entering the meet, continued his reign with the fastest time of qualifying at 45.32. The time is the second-fastest qualifying time in NCAA Indoor Championships history.
Igbokwe will join Montgomery in the eight-man final after claiming the final qualifying spot with a time of 46.91. Igbokwe would return to the track 70 minutes later for the prelims of the 200-meter dash where he qualify for his second final by winning his heat with a time of 20.62, the second-fastest time in Houston history, trailing only the 20.02 run by Houston's Elijah Hall to claim the national title at last year's indoor championships.
Running on the same straightaway he claimed The American's title in the 60-meter dash two weeks ago, Burke claimed the win in the first prelim heat of the event, lowering his PR to 6.57, the third-fastest time in Houston history. Burke entered the meet ranked No. 6 in the nation with two athletes ranked ahead of him failing to qualify in No. 2 Cravont Charleston (NC State) and No. 4 Emmanuel Wells (Washington State).
Entering the meet ranked No. 16 in the long jump, Samuels jumped eight spots in the event's final standings to claim Houston's ninth All-America honor in the event and its first since Tai'Shea Reese in 2012. Samuels made a dramatic splash into the finals after fouling her first two attempts before a jump of 20-2.50 (6.16). The junior would improve on her final two jumps, finishing with her best mark of 20-6.50 (6.26) on her sixth and final jump.
The last qualifier for the women's 200-meter dash at No. 16, Bethel climbed six spots in the rankings with a 10th-place finish in a time of 23.30. The junior became the sixth athlete in Houston history to earn All-America honors in the event and the first since Christie Jones in 2011.
Ranked No. 6 in the latest USTFCCCA national rankings, the Houston men accounted for seven entries in the NCAA field. The Cougars are looking to claim back-to-back top-10 finishes at the NCAA Indoor Championships for the first time since 1989-90. Houston finished seventh at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships with 26 points, its first top-10 finish since the program's best indoor finish of fourth in 1996.
Following its first indoor conference title since 2006, the Houston women's program sent a quartet of athletes to Birmingham as the No. 31 team in the USTFCCCA rankings. Fresh off their first indoor conference title since 2006, the Houston women will look to post a point total for the first time since 2010.
UP NEXT
Houston opens its outdoor season when it hosts the Houston Spring Break Invitational on Thursday, March 14. Action at the event is slated to begin with field events at 10 a.m. with running events beginning at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the Track & Field team has established its own official Facebook (facebook.com/UHCougarTF) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarTF).
SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track & Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the UH Track & Field and Cross Country programs for needs beyond their operating budgets. Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the Head Coach.
Houston supporters interested in joining the Podium Club or for more information, please click here.
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