News release from Texas A&M Athletics
By: Sam Thornton, Athletics Communications
EUGENE – Texas A&M’s Aleksandr Solovev won the men’s pole vault national title on the opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships Wednesday evening at Hayward Field.
Setting the tone for the Aggies at the national championships was the pole vault phenom Solovev, as he broke his own school record to capture A&M’s second ever outdoor title in the event and first since 1980. The junior had to battle adversity as his competition came down to a third-and-final attempt at 5.78m/18-11.5, however his resilience showed as cleared the bar breaking his program best, while the mark also stands as the fourth-highest title-winning mark in championship history.
Victor Kibiego got the momentum rolling on the track, as he punched the Maroon & White’s first ticket to Friday’s finals, as he secured automatic qualification in the 3,000m steeplechase after running out of a talented opening heat and clocked a time of 8:35.98 which was good for fifth.
Auhmad Robinson added to the group advancing to Friday, securing his spot in the 400m final after clocking 45.35 in the opening heat which held as the fastest-timed qualifier. Cutler Zamzow and Hossam Eddine Hatib also ran in the semifinals, each securing Second Team All-America honors finishing 14th (45.65) and 15th (45.94), respectively.
Sam Whitmarsh joined the finals group after clocking the second-fastest time in heat two of the men’s 800m. He crossed the line in 1:47.29 which ensured back-to-back years with a final’s appearance in the event.
The 400m hurdle duo of Ja’Qualon Scott and Bryce McCray punched a pair of tickets to finals. Scott dominated the third and final heat of the semifinals, crossing the line first in 49.16. McCray ran out of the second heat of the afternoon, and thanks to a heroic kick down the home straight he matched his personal best with a time of 49.56 to advance third out of his heat and fifth overall.
Punching the final ticket to finals on the day was the men’s 4x400m relay team consisting of Eric Hemphill III, Zamzow, Kimar Farquharson and Robinson. The group battled through a tough heat before Robinson was handed the baton in sixth entering the final leg of the race. The senior standout made his move at the 200m mark, taking the inside line through all the race traffic to capture the lead and win the heat for A&M in 3:03.09 to advance to Friday’s final.
The men’s 4x100m relay were the first group to hit the track, as the quartet of Scott, Ernest Campbell, Mason Mangum crossed the line 13th overall with a time of 39.23 which earned Second Team All-America honors.
Cooper Cawthra wrapped up his outdoor campaign with a 10th-place finish in the 1,500m, crossing the line in 3:43.34 to secure back-to-back Second Team All-America accolades for the team on the track.
Next Up
The Aggies return to Hayward Field tomorrow for the second day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.