Beckford Breaks Record Again, Maswanganyi Wins at the Line to Close Tom Jones Invitational

Thursday, April 11

Azusa, Calif.

University of Houston

Bryan Clay Invitational

Beckford Breaks Record Again, Maswanganyi Wins at the Line to Close Tom Jones Invitational

4/14/2024 1:58:00 AM | Track and Field

Kelly-Ann Beckford runs school record 800-meter, Shaun Maswanganyi finishes first in 100-meter dash

By: Colton Merritt

AZUSA, Calif. and GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Graduate Kelly-Ann Beckford broke the 800-meter school record, senior Shaun Maswanganyi won the 100-meter dash and four Cougars set personal bests in James G. Pressly Stadium at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational and end the weekend at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Cougar Stadium on Saturday.

Graduate Beckford ran a personal-best time of 2:00.70 in the 800-meter to break her school record set this season at Texas Relays. Her third-place finish, second among collegiate competitors, landed her No. 2 in the nation this season.

In the 100-meter, sprinter Maswanganyi won with a time of 10.12. Maswanganyi won the fastest heat with podium finishers separated by just four-hundredths of a second. While this mark didn't eclipse the senior's season best of 10.02 set at Texas Relays, the time would have landed him No. 9 in the nation for the season.

Freshman Michaela Mouton and senior Iman Babineaux set personal bests in the 400-meter invite. Mouton ran to a 51.41 finish and landed her No. 2 in school history. Babineaux crossed the line at 52.77 and earned her No. 7 in the program record book.

Graduate Sydni Townsend alongside Babineaux, Beckford and Mouton, finished fifth in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:28.36. The relay team, competing against professionals and student-athlete alike, finished second in the collegiate field, only behind the nation leading team.

To close the Bryan Clay Invitational, freshman distance runner Aaron Crittenden finished seventh out of 132 finishes in the 1,500-meter open B with a time personal-best time of 3:49.94.

UP NEXT
The Houston Track and Field program will split competition, sending a group to the Mt. SAC Relays, Wednesday through Saturday in Walnut, Calif.

The Cougars will also compete in the Alumni Muster hosted by Texas A&M on Saturday in College Station, Texas.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Track and Field by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining the Podium Club which provides support directly to Houston Track and Field for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.

– UHCougars.com –