Historic run for Kerley at regionals

Texas A&M senior takes down 25-year-old collegiate record in 400, elevates to No. 7 performer all-time in the world, including sixth among Americans

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Fred Kerley didn't wish to wait until the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field to make history in the men's 400 meters.

The Texas A&M senior set the collegiate record Friday at University of Texas in Austin by clocking a world-leading 43.70 seconds in the West Regional quarterfinals, taking down the 1992 mark of 44.00 by former USC star and Olympic gold medalist Quincy Watts, who was in attendance coaching the Trojans.

Kerley, who ran 44.09 at the Southeastern Conference prelims May 12 to move into second on the collegiate list behind Watts, elevated to the No. 6 performer in U.S. history and seventh all-time in the world with Friday's effort.

Although she didn't set a record, USC junior Kendall Ellis ran a personal-best 50.45 to lead all qualifiers in the women's 400, moving into second on the collegiate list, third among Americans and fifth in the world this year.

Oregon had three athletes -- Makenzie Dunmore, Elexis Guster and Ashante Horsley -- advance to Hayward Field for the semifinals.

The Ducks also had Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington advance in the 100, but after clocking 11.06 in the first round Thursday, Hannah Cunliffe did not compete in the quarterfinals. Stevens ran a wind-aided 10.89 and Washington a wind-legal 11.08, taking second in her heat behind San Diego State's Ashley Henderson (11.01).

The Pac-12 also dominated the women's 400 hurdles, with Arizona's Sage Watson (56.13), USC's Anna Cockrell (56.37) and fellow Trojan Amalie Iuel (56.87) winning their quarterfinal heats, with Texas' Ariel Jones also qualifying in 56.44.

Texas' Byron Robinson led all qualifiers in the men's 400 hurdles in 48.58.

Three individuals ran wind-aided times under 10 seconds in the men's 100 meters. Houston's Cameron Burrell clocked 9.95, Arkansas State's Jaylen Bacon ran 9.97 and Oregon's Kyree King prevailed in his heat in 9.98.

UTEP freshman Emmanuel Korir led all qualifiers in the men's 800 in 1:45.88. Jazmine Fray of Texas A&M had the fastest women's 800 effort in 2:03.65, with four-time NCAA indoor and outdoor champion Raevyn Rogers of Oregon -- the collegiate record holder at 1:59.10 -- qualifying in her heat in 2:05.72.

New Mexico's Alice Wright (34:06.78) and Tulsa's Marc Scott (29:50.49) led the 10,000 qualifiers Thursday.