T&F: Prince, 4x400 Relay Punch Tickets

NCAA WEST RESULTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Even on a night when he recorded the fifth-fastest 110-meter hurdles time in program history, Baylor junior Demario Prince is convinced he still has more in the tank for next month's NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Ore.

Earning a return trip to nationals, Prince won his heat and posted the fourth-best time in the NCAA West Prelims Friday night at John McDonnel Field, clocking a 13.22-second time that gives him four of the top five times in school history in the event.

"I always want to have my PRs and my fastest race at the big championships," the Jamaican junior said. "I still think it's in the tank. I haven't PRed outdoor this season, so I'm just looking forward to it."

Running its season best for the second-straight meet, the men's 4x400-meter relay also advanced to the NCAA Championship, finishing third in its heat and sixth-best overall in 3:02.90.

Aren Spencer and Malik Franklin failed to advance in the open 400 meters, but they ran the opening two legs and put the Bears in a solid second-place position for freshman Bailey Hashmi and sophomore Tyler Honeyman to bring it home. Tech won the heat in 3:02.44, with USC anchor Jack Stadlman clipping Honeyman by less than a tenth of a second (3:02.61).

"Tyler is figuring out how to run anchor," Ford said. "I'm really proud of that group, just because they're running as a team. We didn't have a quarter-miler make it to Oregon, but those guys have just come together, and they've been a close bunch all year."

Prince, running his second-best time of the year, "comes in super locked-in on what he needs to do," Ford said.

"He's just a gamer. I'm pretty sure he wasn't happy with the time or the run, but he's just very consistent. He does what he needs to do."

Getting "stuck in the blocks," Prince had to play catch-up the rest of the race, outleaning Texas A&M's Ja'Qualon Scott at the finish line by one-hundredth of a second (13.23). Kendrick Smallwood of Texas recorded the NCAA's fastest time this year (13.04), with Wichita State's Josh Parrish (13.17) and Texas Tech's Malachi Snow (13.18) going 1-2 in the final heat.

"I didn't react to the gun like I would want to," Prince said. "But the main focus of this meet is just to qualify for nationals. So, I'm just glad I got my big Q (qualifying time)."

In the 4x100-meter relay, a bad exchange between Laurenz Colbert and Ricquan Graham proved costly, with the Bears finishing fifth in their heat and 15^th overall in a disappointing time of 39.53.

The Baylor women will have a full schedule on Saturday's final day of the NCAA West Prelims, with senior All-American Tiriah Kelley potentially running in four events, the 100, 200 and both relays.

For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.

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SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4x400 relay, 5 p.m.
(Tiriah Kelley, Hannah Lowe, Jada Edwards, Royaltee Brown)

100 meters, 6:35 p.m.
Janae De Gannes
Tiriah Kelley
Royaltee Brown

400m hurdles, 7:25 p.m.
Serafima Lucero

200 meters, 7:50 p.m.
Royaltee Brown
Tiriah Kelley
Success Oyibu

5,000 meters
Ruth Kimeli

4x400m Relay
(Alyssa Jones, Tiriah Kelley, Serafima Lucero, Success Oyibu)

T&F: Prince, 4x400 Relay Punch Tickets

Players Mentioned

Royaltee Brown

Laurenz Colbert

Janae De Gannes

Jada Edwards

Malik Franklin

Ricquan Graham

Bailey Hashmi

Tyler Honeyman

Alyssa Jones

Tiriah Kelley

Ruth Kimeli

Hannah Lowe

Serafima Lucero

Success Oyibu

Demario Prince

Aren Spencer

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