Baylor
Michael Johnson Classic
TF Wins Seven at Rain-Soaked MJ Classic
4/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
April 17, 2010
WACO, Texas - Battling the elements all day, Baylor's track and field team combined to win seven events on a rain-shortened day at the Michael Johnson Classic on Saturday at the Hart-Patterson Track Complex. The meet was suspended four scheduled events remaining, including the 400m hurdles, 200 meters, 5,000 meters, and 4x400-meter relay.
Baylor was especially dominating in the women's jumps, sweeping the high jump, long jump, and triple jump to go along with a victory in the women's 100 and 1,500 meters, men's javelin and men's 800 meters.
On senior day, senior DeAna Carson broke the 20-foot barrier in the long jump for the first time this season with a winning leap of 20-0.5. Sophomore Jessica Ubanyionwu took top honors in the triple jump with a leap of 40-5.5, while Dess Meek was the high jump champ with a clearance of 5-7.
Also for the women, 10-time All-American Tiffany Townsend got back on the track after battling early season injuries, and returned to form. Townsend flew out of the blocks on her way to a victory in the 100 meters with a time of 11.64. In the women's 1,500, freshman Stephanie Morgan raced past a field filled with Baylor athletes to win with a time of 4:31.99 in the last event of the day.
On the men's side, senior All-American Chris Gowell got back into racing after nursing an injury and also took a victory. Gowell led a 1-3 Baylor finish with James Gilreath. Gowell finished in a time of 1:50.23, while Gilreath crossed in 1:51.15.
Junior javelin school record holder Nick Lyons lived up to his billing with the second-best performance in school history and a 16-foot victory. Lyons uncorked a toss of 230-4, despite wet conditions for throwing.
The Bears' sprint crew also turned in a day of solid performances. In the men's 100 meters, Whitney Prevost and Courtney Thomas posted a 2-4 finish with times of 10.58 and 10.63, respectively. In the 400s, Diamond Richardson shattered her own personal best in the women's race with a second-place time of 53.12, while Michael Liggins was the top men's finisher in sixth at 46.08. In the men's afternoon section of the 200 meters, senior Thaddeus Gordon ran a personal best 21.69 to win his heat, and place section overall in the section.
Thomas and Prevost also made up the middle two legs of Baylor's second-place 4x100-meter relay team. Marcus Boyrd and Trey Harts served as the bookends on a team that ran one of the top 10 times in the nation, but came up short against a team that featured world-class sprinters Mike Rodgers, Jerome Miller, Chris Dykes, and Wallace Spearmon.
The Bears will be back in action at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. The meet is scheduled to begin Wednesday, April 21, and run through Saturday, April 24.
Players Mentioned
