Wednesday, June 10
Eugene, Oregon
Baylor
at
NCAA Outdoor Championships
T&F: Prince Part of History-Making Race
6/11/2026 12:52:00 AM | Track & Field
Junior hurdler finishes 2nd behind world record-setter
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
EUGENE, Ore. – Running a wind-legal season best of 13.15 seconds, Baylor junior Demario Prince advanced to the finals of the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championship at Hayward Field.
But Prince was also part of history in Wednesday's semifinals, finishing second in his heat behind Ja'Kobe Tharp of Auburn's world record-setting time of 12.75, eclipsing the previous mark of 12.80 set by Aries Merritt 14 years ago and the NCAA record of 12.98 set by Florida's Grant Holloway in 2019.
"Obviously, (Sharp) got out," said Prince, who was fifth at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championship before winning the bronze medal in the 60-meter hurdles at this year's NCAA Indoor. "I didn't think I had my cleanest race, but I just saw him start moving away and tried to chase him. But when you're chasing a world record, it's very hard. Kudos to him."
Prince had the third-fastest time in the semifinals, with Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood winning the opening heat in a time of 13.02 seconds that ranked as the No. 2 mark in the world this year until Sharp did him one better.
"In the back of my mind, I knew it was going to take 12 seconds (under 13) to win this race," said Prince, who had his career PR of 13.12 at last summer's Jamaican World Championship Trials. "Obviously, it's 12 seconds already in the semi. In order to win, I have to go after the world record. So, we'll see how that goes."
Baylor coach Michael Ford said for Prince "to be in a world-record race and not get caught up in it, I thought that was great for him."
"I still think he can run faster. I didn't really like the first hurdle as much. He came up a little early, popped up a little early, and his trail leg was a little high off hurdle one. But then after that, I think the rest of the race was fine. I think he's ready to run 13 (seconds) flat. If he cleans up that first huddle, everything else will take care of itself."
Prince advances to Friday's final at 7:42 p.m. central, starting out of Lane 7 in the nine-man final, putting him on the outside of Tharp and Smallwood.
In Baylor's only other event on the opening day of the NCAA Championship, the men's 4x400-meter relay of Aren Spencer, Malik Franklin, Bailey Hashmi and Tyler Honeyman failed to advance, finishing last in their heat and 22nd overall with a time of 3:07.91. That was their slowest time in more than two months and well off the 3:02.70 they ran at the NCAA West Prelims.
Other than a 44.89 split by Franklin, the Bears were slower on each of the other three legs.
"Pretty much everybody that made it through ran a 46-mid on the first leg, and we didn't have a 46 today on that first leg," Ford said of Spencer's 47.73. "I thought Malik did well, ran a 44 split, but we were just too far back. I'm proud of them. They were Big 12 champs. I think there were two goals that we didn't do, we didn't make the finals and then not running 3-flat this year."
On Thursday, the meet shifts to the women, with Baylor having a busy day. Senior All-American Tiriah Kelley is competing in the 100 and 200 meters and leading off the 4x100-meter relay, while Serafima Lucero (400-meter hurdles) and Ruth Kimeli (10,000 meters) will also run.
In the field events, Molly Haywood and Tenly Kuhn go into the pole vault finals with top-10 marks, with sophomore Janae De Gannes going for her first podium finish at the NCAA Championship in the long jump.
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 -
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
110-meter hurdles: Demario Prince, 2nd in heat and third-fastest time overall, 13.15 (advances to Friday's final)
4x400-meter relay: (Aren Spencer, Malik Franklin, Bailey Hashmi, Tyler Honeyman), 7th in heat, 22nd overall, 3:07.91.
THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE
(all times Central)
7:05 p.m.: 4x100 Relay Semifinals (Tiriah Kelley, Hannah Lowe, Jada Edwards, Royaltee Brown)
7:35 p.m.: Pole Vault Finals, Molly Haywood, Tenly Kuhn
8:25 p.m.: 100m Semifinals, Tiriah Kelley
8:40 p.m.: Long Jump Finals, Janae De Gannes
9:14 p.m.: 400m Hurdles Semifinals, Serafima Lucero
9:29 p.m.: 200m Semifinals, Tiriah Kelley
9:56 p.m.: 10,000m Final, Ruth Kimeli
EUGENE, Ore. – Running a wind-legal season best of 13.15 seconds, Baylor junior Demario Prince advanced to the finals of the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championship at Hayward Field.
But Prince was also part of history in Wednesday's semifinals, finishing second in his heat behind Ja'Kobe Tharp of Auburn's world record-setting time of 12.75, eclipsing the previous mark of 12.80 set by Aries Merritt 14 years ago and the NCAA record of 12.98 set by Florida's Grant Holloway in 2019.
"Obviously, (Sharp) got out," said Prince, who was fifth at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championship before winning the bronze medal in the 60-meter hurdles at this year's NCAA Indoor. "I didn't think I had my cleanest race, but I just saw him start moving away and tried to chase him. But when you're chasing a world record, it's very hard. Kudos to him."
Prince had the third-fastest time in the semifinals, with Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood winning the opening heat in a time of 13.02 seconds that ranked as the No. 2 mark in the world this year until Sharp did him one better.
"In the back of my mind, I knew it was going to take 12 seconds (under 13) to win this race," said Prince, who had his career PR of 13.12 at last summer's Jamaican World Championship Trials. "Obviously, it's 12 seconds already in the semi. In order to win, I have to go after the world record. So, we'll see how that goes."
Baylor coach Michael Ford said for Prince "to be in a world-record race and not get caught up in it, I thought that was great for him."
"I still think he can run faster. I didn't really like the first hurdle as much. He came up a little early, popped up a little early, and his trail leg was a little high off hurdle one. But then after that, I think the rest of the race was fine. I think he's ready to run 13 (seconds) flat. If he cleans up that first huddle, everything else will take care of itself."
Prince advances to Friday's final at 7:42 p.m. central, starting out of Lane 7 in the nine-man final, putting him on the outside of Tharp and Smallwood.
In Baylor's only other event on the opening day of the NCAA Championship, the men's 4x400-meter relay of Aren Spencer, Malik Franklin, Bailey Hashmi and Tyler Honeyman failed to advance, finishing last in their heat and 22nd overall with a time of 3:07.91. That was their slowest time in more than two months and well off the 3:02.70 they ran at the NCAA West Prelims.
Other than a 44.89 split by Franklin, the Bears were slower on each of the other three legs.
"Pretty much everybody that made it through ran a 46-mid on the first leg, and we didn't have a 46 today on that first leg," Ford said of Spencer's 47.73. "I thought Malik did well, ran a 44 split, but we were just too far back. I'm proud of them. They were Big 12 champs. I think there were two goals that we didn't do, we didn't make the finals and then not running 3-flat this year."
On Thursday, the meet shifts to the women, with Baylor having a busy day. Senior All-American Tiriah Kelley is competing in the 100 and 200 meters and leading off the 4x100-meter relay, while Serafima Lucero (400-meter hurdles) and Ruth Kimeli (10,000 meters) will also run.
In the field events, Molly Haywood and Tenly Kuhn go into the pole vault finals with top-10 marks, with sophomore Janae De Gannes going for her first podium finish at the NCAA Championship in the long jump.
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 -
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
110-meter hurdles: Demario Prince, 2nd in heat and third-fastest time overall, 13.15 (advances to Friday's final)
4x400-meter relay: (Aren Spencer, Malik Franklin, Bailey Hashmi, Tyler Honeyman), 7th in heat, 22nd overall, 3:07.91.
THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE
(all times Central)
7:05 p.m.: 4x100 Relay Semifinals (Tiriah Kelley, Hannah Lowe, Jada Edwards, Royaltee Brown)
7:35 p.m.: Pole Vault Finals, Molly Haywood, Tenly Kuhn
8:25 p.m.: 100m Semifinals, Tiriah Kelley
8:40 p.m.: Long Jump Finals, Janae De Gannes
9:14 p.m.: 400m Hurdles Semifinals, Serafima Lucero
9:29 p.m.: 200m Semifinals, Tiriah Kelley
9:56 p.m.: 10,000m Final, Ruth Kimeli
Players Mentioned
Sprints
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Jumps
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Sprints
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Sprints
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Sprints
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Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
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Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & FieldFriday, May 22
Tuesday, May 19
Sunday, May 17
Sunday, May 17
