STEPHENVILLE — The Tarleton State Track and Field program broke three school records, two national records and set 23 top ten programs best in the two-day Corky Classic at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center.
The majority of the Texans indoor squad opened their season at the Corky Classic. The first day was highlighted by a pair of school records as well as two new national records. Malak Rashwan broke her own score record as well as the Egyptian National Record in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.46 seconds. Newcomer Emma Holmes set the new school record in the 400 meters in her Texan debut. The Memphis transfer crossed in 55.18 seconds to break Amandine Estival’s record from last year. Lauren Roy was one of four Texans to qualify for the 60-meter semis. In the semifinals her time of 7.25 seconds set the new Northern Ireland National Record and improved her second-best time in program history. Her time also is the third fastest all-time in all of Ireland.
“I’m extremely proud of how our program opened the indoor season at Texas Tech,” said head coach Bobby Carter. “We didn’t come here to participate, we came here to compete, and it showed. Breaking multiple school records while lining up with Power 4 programs, confirms the direction of Tarleton State Track & Field. This team is built to challenge standards, not chase them. And make no mistake, we’re coming with something every single meet.”
Day 1
Rashwan started off the day setting the school record in the 60-meter hurdles in the prelims. She finished second in her heat and seventh overall in the prelims with a new best of 8.46 seconds. In the semis, Rashwan finished fourth in her heat and 14th overall in 8.58 seconds. Rashwan’s 8.46-second race sets a new Egyptian National record which she owned at 8.49 seconds.
Holmes made the second school record of the first day fall, breaking the 400-meter record in her Texan debut. The Memphis transfer led the majority of her heat but was just edged out at the end to cross in 55.18 seconds. She broke Estival’s record of 55.47 seconds set last season.
In the women’s 60-meter dash, four Texans qualified for the semis out of the prelims with three running new program top 10 best times. Prestina Ochonogor stumbled out of the blocks and still posted the seventh best time in program history in the prelims in 7.56 seconds. Newcomer Nellie Wartanian ran the fifth fastest time in program history racing in 7.50 seconds. Roy crossed in a new personal best of 7.31 seconds, the second-best time in the prelims. Victoria Cameron owned the third best time in the prelims crossing in 7.36 seconds.
In the semis, Ochonogor improved to the fourth best time in program history crossing in 7.41 seconds but just missing the finals. Roy once again set a new personal best clocking in at 7.25 seconds, the third best time in the semis. Cameron improved on her time from the prelims and ran the second fast semifinal time of 7.22 seconds. Both Roy and Cameron qualified for the finals, but the pair and the top semifinal finisher chose not to run in the final race, which would have been their third race in a short period of time. Roy’s time of 7.25 seconds set the new Northern Ireland national record surpassing the previous best of 7.27 seconds. Roy’s time also now ranks third all-time in all of Ireland.
In the men’s long jump, Lokesh Sathyanathan placed third overall with a best leap of 7.80 meters coming on his fifth jump. Jalen Cadet recorded the third best personal best in program history with a best leap of 7.51 meters. Cadet placed seventh overall while setting a new personal best in his Texan debut. Sir Jonathan Sims also reached the finals and placed ninth with his best jump of 7.43 meters coming on his first attempt.
Two more Texan ladies posted top 10 performance bests in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles. Syenna Lara posted the seventh best time in program history in her collegiate debut clocking in at 8.95 seconds. Justice Armstrong ran the tenth best time in program history crossing in 9.10 seconds.
Omar Mahmoud qualified for the semis in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. His prelim time of 8.13 seconds was the 17th best time. He qualified for the semis but did not compete.
Sofia DeGroot qualified for the finals in the women’s long jump and finished ninth with a best leap of 5.84 meters. In her first meet as a Texan, Sakina Umar Awam leapt 5.52 meters, the ninth best in program history to earn 18th overall.
David Mvundura and JayBrion Jones each qualified for the semis in the 60-meter dash. Jones won his heat in the prelims in 6.84 seconds, but Mvundura placed a spot ahead of him in 6.81 seconds while placing second in his heat. In the semis, Jones ran the fourth fastest time in program history clocking in at 6.77 seconds to finish third in his heat and 15th overall. Mvundura also ran a personal best of 6.79 seconds improving his fifth best time in program history.
Camden Hawkins ran the sixth fastest indoor 400-meter time in school history. Hawkins was in the lead after the first 200-meter lap but dropped to fourth in his heat in the final lap crossing in 48.74 seconds.
Day 2
Jacob Thomas started the day off with the third school record of the meet this time in the men’s pole vault. Thomas cleared the 5.03-meter bar on his second attempt after his clearing each of his first two heights on the firs vault. Thomas broke his own record of 5.02 meters that he set last season. Thomas is the whole Texan vaulter in program history to eclipse the 5.0-meter mark indoors. He finished second overall behind Jackson Bragg who cleared 5.18 meters.
In the men’s 200, Cadet notched his second personal best and Tarleton State top 10 performance of the meet. He tied for second all-time with current teammate, David Mvundura running in 21.28 seconds. Hawkins also notched his second top 10 performance with the seventh best race in school history in 21.67 seconds. Cadet placed 14th overall.
Tayler Wessely set a new personal record of 13.20 meters to claim the second-best indoor shot put in Texan history. Lucy George posted the fourth best throw in school history in her Texan debut. The GCU transfer’s best toss of 12.88 meters came on her first throw.
Evan Simmons was just 1.4 seconds away from tying the school record in the 600 yards in his Texan debut. Simmons recorded the second-best time in program history crossing in 1:11.72. He finished 11th overall in the event.
Freshman Jayana Phillips recorded a 11.90-meter leap on her first collegiate attempt in the women’s triple jump. Phillips now ranks fourth all-time in program history. Sofia DeGroot placed 11th overall with a best jump of 12.15 meters.
Justin Temple Jr.’s best leap of 13.72 meters in the men’s triple jump came on his third attempt. In his first collegiate meet, he recorded the eighth best leap in program history.
A pair of Texans set new program top 10 bests in the women’s 200 meters. After setting the school and Egyptian record in the 60-meter hurdles on Day 1, Rashwan’s 24.57 second performance is the new 8th best performance is school history. Holmes followed up her school record performance in the 400 in the first day with the fourth best time in the 200 in 24.30 seconds. Rashwan finished 18th overall and Holmes crossed in 15th.
In the final women’s event of the day, the women’s 4×400 meter relay team posted the second fastest time in school history. Rashwan led off for the Texans and handed off to Cameron in the top three of the heat. Cameron quickly took the lead and the Texans never looked back. Roy kept the Texans ahead before handing off to Holmes for the final 400. Holmes secured the heat victory for the Texans in 3:43.68 and 10th place overall.
Tarleton State will be back in action next weekend once again at Texas Tech for the Jarvis Scott Invitational as well as in Texas A&M for the Ted Nelson Invitational.
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