SUM IS MORE THAN ITS PARTS
5/30/2026 2:57:00 PM | Track & Field
Bears’ 4x400 relay doesn’t have an individual advancing to nationals
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arizona State transfer Malik Franklin says Baylor's 4x400-meter relay is being "slept on."
They better wake up.
Without a single runner advancing in one of the individual events, the Bears finished third in their heat Friday night in the NCAA West Prelims and advanced to next month's NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., with a season-best time of 3:02.70.
"It's amazing what we can do with the four guys we have," said sophomore Tyler Honeyman, who ran a 45.6 anchor leg. "Each one of us was just seconds away from even being able to run at Eugene. But when you combine us together, we're a team that can compete in Eugene. So, it's a blessing."
Franklin and senior Aren Spencer advanced to the quarterfinals in the 400 meters, but they finished last in their respective heats and were 21st and 22nd, respectively, with times well off their season bests.
"I think I can speak for both me and Malik, I believe we were pretty upset with the results (in the 400 meters)," said Spencer, who has established himself as a reliable leadoff leg after filling in as the anchor for Nathaniel Ezekiel at last year's NCAA Championship. "We came in here with a vengeance, and we knew we had a good enough squad to get in. It's just about getting the baton around cleanly, and we were good money."
Opening splits by Spencer (46.52) and Franklin (45.14) put the Bears solidly in second place, nipping at the heels of Big 12-rival Texas Tech.
"We're a team, so we're all as one," said Franklin, who was on Arizona State's 4x400 relay that placed 10th at last year's NCAA Championship. "Even though I didn't do my best in my open, I still have guys to back up. They believe in me, and they trusted me to go out and get the job done in the second leg. I went out there and produced and did what I needed to do."
Freshman Bailey Hashmi, more of a 100/200 sprinter, subbed in for sophomore Abbas Ali at the Big 12 Championship and helped the Bears win the conference title with a then-season-best 3:02.90.
"When Ali got hurt at conference – he was having a little hamstring issue – I said, 'Bailey, you've got to run,''' Baylor coach Michael Ford said. "Bailey's kind of a tweener, we recruited him more for the 200, but every 'B' relay I would put him on during the season, he was running really well."
Hashmi had a high school PR of 48.26 and hadn't run an open 400 since his junior season at Houston Lamar. But he ran a 46.03 leg at the Big 12 meet and improved that to a career-best 45.45 third leg Friday night, handing the baton off to Honeyman in second place and actually closing the gap on Texas Tech.
"When I got the baton, I wasn't in first, but the Tech guy in front of me ran the race a little different than I did. So, I decided to stick with him," Hashmi said. "When I run on my own, I don't do the best. It was just having someone to follow, to keep up with. And it really paid off, because that was my best split so far."
Honeyman, who has an outdoor best of 46.90 in the open 400, closed with a 45.6 anchor leg that nailed down the automatic qualifying spot with a third-place finish behind Tech (3:02.44) and USC (3:02.61).
"I couldn't do it without my team," he said. "Shout out to Bailey, who just recently got added to this team and is absolutely crushing it for us right now. I just know me and the boys are ready to get back and get after it at nationals."
Baylor, which once had a streak of making it to 23-consecutive NCAA finals in the 4x400 relay (1989-2011), is looking to advance to the final for the first time since a sixth-place finish in 2023.
"I think people should be on the lookout for us," Franklin said. "We're up and rising with me coming in, me coming back next year. I'm about to make a statement not just for myself but also for Baylor as a school."
For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
Baylor Bear Insider
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arizona State transfer Malik Franklin says Baylor's 4x400-meter relay is being "slept on."
They better wake up.
Without a single runner advancing in one of the individual events, the Bears finished third in their heat Friday night in the NCAA West Prelims and advanced to next month's NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., with a season-best time of 3:02.70.
"It's amazing what we can do with the four guys we have," said sophomore Tyler Honeyman, who ran a 45.6 anchor leg. "Each one of us was just seconds away from even being able to run at Eugene. But when you combine us together, we're a team that can compete in Eugene. So, it's a blessing."
Franklin and senior Aren Spencer advanced to the quarterfinals in the 400 meters, but they finished last in their respective heats and were 21st and 22nd, respectively, with times well off their season bests.
"I think I can speak for both me and Malik, I believe we were pretty upset with the results (in the 400 meters)," said Spencer, who has established himself as a reliable leadoff leg after filling in as the anchor for Nathaniel Ezekiel at last year's NCAA Championship. "We came in here with a vengeance, and we knew we had a good enough squad to get in. It's just about getting the baton around cleanly, and we were good money."
Opening splits by Spencer (46.52) and Franklin (45.14) put the Bears solidly in second place, nipping at the heels of Big 12-rival Texas Tech.
"We're a team, so we're all as one," said Franklin, who was on Arizona State's 4x400 relay that placed 10th at last year's NCAA Championship. "Even though I didn't do my best in my open, I still have guys to back up. They believe in me, and they trusted me to go out and get the job done in the second leg. I went out there and produced and did what I needed to do."
Freshman Bailey Hashmi, more of a 100/200 sprinter, subbed in for sophomore Abbas Ali at the Big 12 Championship and helped the Bears win the conference title with a then-season-best 3:02.90.
"When Ali got hurt at conference – he was having a little hamstring issue – I said, 'Bailey, you've got to run,''' Baylor coach Michael Ford said. "Bailey's kind of a tweener, we recruited him more for the 200, but every 'B' relay I would put him on during the season, he was running really well."
Hashmi had a high school PR of 48.26 and hadn't run an open 400 since his junior season at Houston Lamar. But he ran a 46.03 leg at the Big 12 meet and improved that to a career-best 45.45 third leg Friday night, handing the baton off to Honeyman in second place and actually closing the gap on Texas Tech.
"When I got the baton, I wasn't in first, but the Tech guy in front of me ran the race a little different than I did. So, I decided to stick with him," Hashmi said. "When I run on my own, I don't do the best. It was just having someone to follow, to keep up with. And it really paid off, because that was my best split so far."
Honeyman, who has an outdoor best of 46.90 in the open 400, closed with a 45.6 anchor leg that nailed down the automatic qualifying spot with a third-place finish behind Tech (3:02.44) and USC (3:02.61).
"I couldn't do it without my team," he said. "Shout out to Bailey, who just recently got added to this team and is absolutely crushing it for us right now. I just know me and the boys are ready to get back and get after it at nationals."
Baylor, which once had a streak of making it to 23-consecutive NCAA finals in the 4x400 relay (1989-2011), is looking to advance to the final for the first time since a sixth-place finish in 2023.
"I think people should be on the lookout for us," Franklin said. "We're up and rising with me coming in, me coming back next year. I'm about to make a statement not just for myself but also for Baylor as a school."
For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & FieldThe Sic Em Podcast (Ep. 99): Molly Haywood, Tenley Kuhn, and Alencia Lentz
Friday, May 22
Baylor Athletics: My Baylor Story - Molly Haywood
Tuesday, May 19
Janae De Gannes finishes 3rd in Womens Long Jump at Big 12 Championships !
Sunday, May 17
Pole Vault U! Baylor Takes 1st, 2nd, and 4th in Womens Pole Vault at Big 12 Championships!
Sunday, May 17
