Texas A&M sets world record in men's 4x400, finishes fifth at NCAA Indoors

The final day of the 2018 NCAA Championships saw good individual performances that turned into a top-five finish on the men’s side and ended with the women grabbing 10th place at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.

One of the best performances of the day came from Mylik Kerley who grabbed 3rd place with a personal best time of 45.16 in the men’s 400m dash. In addition to Kerley making the podium, Sammy Watson earned 3rd place in the women’s 800m in 2:02.65. Her teammate Jazmine Fray took fifth place with a time of 2:03.88. 

“I’m very satisfied,” Watson said of her performance today. “I’m happy that I finished the season healthy and that I’ve been put in this position to compete at such a high level.”

In the relays, the men’s 4x400 team of Ilolo Izu, Devin Dixon, Robert Grant and Kerley finished in second place with a world record time of 3:01.39. The Aggies get the distinction of the new world record holders despite finishing second in the event to USC. A&M receives the record due to all of its athletes being of the same nationality.

The women’s 4x400 relay of Danyel White, Glorilisha Carter, Julia Madubuike and Jazmine Fray took sixth place in 3:31.64. In the women’s 200m dash, White grabbed eighth place overall in a time of 23.09.

When it was all said and done, the men’s team finished in fifth place with 29.5 points and the women took 10th place, totaling 17 points over two days.

Rey Romo, TexAgs

The Aggies established a new world record time of 3:01.39 in the men's 4x400 meter relay on Saturday.

Head coach Pat Henry said he liked how his team performed over the weekend.

“I’m pleased where we are, you know we’re a little hurt on the ladies side, but that doesn’t make any difference,” Henry said. “Everybody’s got some hurt. On the men’s side we made one mistake here or we would’ve been in the money. But that’s the way it is.”

In the field events, Alison Ondrusek took ninth place in the women’s weight throw and jumped several places from 14th. Lajavaria Brown (13.39m) grabbed seventh place in the women’s triple jump, while her teammate Ciynamon Stevenson (12.99m) took 12th place.

“I kind have a mix of emotions,” Ondrusek said. “I’m really happy that I was able to make finals when I came in 14th and to finish ninth that’s a pretty good jump up in the marks. But on the other end, it’s hard to miss scoring position by a slim margin of a centimeter. So that’s kind of hard to take in. ”

Ondrusek as a senior, said she will remember her time competing at Texas A&M and this meet was one that stood out to her. 

“By far the NCAA meet , this meet and last year the outdoor, the experiences there as coach Henry says they’re unlike anything and you’ll always remember them.”

Florida earned the NCAA Title on the men’s side with 40 points, while Georgia, who dominated both days on the women’s side earned the National Title with 60 points.

The Aggies will return to action March 16-17 in the Arizona State Baldy Invitational to begin the outdoor season.