T&F: Vaulters Go 1-2-3 on Opening Day of Clyde Hart Classic

Friday, March 27

Waco, Texas

Baylor

Clyde Hart Classic

T&F: Vaulters Go 1-2-3 on Opening Day of Clyde Hart Classic

3/27/2026 10:34:00 PM | Track & Field

Long jumpers De Gannes, Bernstein earn runner-up finishes

WACO, Texas – Baylor pole vaulters Molly Haywood, Tenly Kuhn and Alencia Lentz all went over 14 feet to finish 1-2-3 on the opening day of the Clyde Hart Classic on Friday at Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium.

"It's so fun getting to jump with not only my teammates but my best friends," said Haywood, who won her outdoor debut with a mark of 14-10. "I live with Alencia, she's probably my best friend. I think it's just something really special that we have such elite vaulters all at one place, that we get to train together and then also go compete together."

Haywood missed three attempts at 15-1 ¾, which would have broken her own school record, but said, "I know I'm going to get that bar super soon." Kuhn passed on seven of the first eight heights before clinching second with her 14-6 vault, while Lentz had her best mark in two years and was third in 14-2.

Grant Vlaun and Parker Brannon both vaulted 16-0 and finished sixth and eighth, respectively, to give the Bears a combined five podium vaulters.

Baylor was also strong in the long jump, with sophomore Janae De Gannes going a season-best 21-2 ¾ and leading until the very last jump, when former Arkansas Razorback Taliyah Brooks of Asics went 21-5 ¼ to edge out De Gannes.

"The wind was really strong today, so I had to work with the wind," De Gannes said. "But overall, I'm pleased. I had a season best. So, just keep working. I don't want to peak too early, so just taking it step by step and trust the process."

On the men's side, Arkansas transfer Sebastian Berntsen and freshman Kingston Williams went 2-3 in the long jump. Berntsen went 24-4 ½ on his first jump of the day, while Williams was just off his career best with a mark of 23-10 ¼.

In a crowded field of 41 entrants, the Baylor men claimed five of the top 10 places in the men's 200 meters, led by sophomore Austen Diggs in fifth place overall and third among collegiate athletes at 21.21. Laurenz Colbert was sixth at 21.29, followed by Bailey Hashmi (8^th, 21.33), Abbas Ali (9^th, 23.46) and Ricquan Grahm (10^th, 21.55).

Sophomore Amon Malakwen had a strong showing in the 1,500 meters, finishing fifth in a career-best time of 3:59.53 and covering the last 800 meters in 2:02.53.

In Baylor's last race of the night, junior Kira Dietrich finished eighth in the 5,000 meters with a career-best time of 18:48.60.

Freshman Luke Van Oort narrowly missed a podium finish, but shattered his previous best in placing eighth in 146-0.

Saturday's second day of the Clyde Hart Classic begins with field events at 11 a.m. and kicking off the running events with the women's 100-meter hurdles at 12:30 p.m. Following a tribute video for Coach Hart, who passed away on Nov. 1, 2025, the meet will close with the women's and men's 4x400 relays.

Live results for the meet are available at Clyde Hart Classic.

- BaylorBears.com -