Lamara Distin picked up from where she left off during the indoor season after opening her outdoor campaign with a record-setting performance when establishing a new Jamaica national record to win the women’s high jump at Texas Relays 2022 on Saturday (26).
TEXAS RELAYS 2022 WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP RESULTS
1 Lamara Distin Texas A&M 1.96m (6-5) NR
2 Nyagoa Bayak LSU 1.82m (5-11.5)
2 Abigail O’Donoghue LSU 1.82m (5-11.5)
2 Rylee Anderson 1.82m (5-11.5) Kansas 1.82m (5-11.5)
5 Cierra Tidwell BYU 1.72 (5-7.75)
5 Sidney Sapp Texas Tech 1.72 (5-7.75)
DNS Nissi Kabongo Stephen F. Austin
DNS Falyn Reaugh Unattached
DNS Rachel McCoy Unattached
Distin, who is coming off an almost perfect indoor season where she topped the term off with the NCAA Indoor Championships title two weeks ago, cleared 1.96m (6-5) to set another Jamaican record in 2022.
Her performance is also a new Texas A&M record, and the fifth-best mark on the collegiate all-time top list. Read more: Day 4 Texas Relays 2022 Schedule, how to watch live
Distin improved the previous Jamaican record of 1.93m by Sheree Ruff in 2010, while setting a Texas Relays record along the way.
The Aggies junior who wrapped up the win very early after entering the contest at 1.77m, used first-time clearances to navigate over her first three heights.
Distin went over 1.77m, 1.82m, and 1.87 at the first time of asking to seal the win before taking second attempts to get over 1.90m and 1.93m, respectively.
The 22-year-old soared over the bar with her opening try at 1.96m to register the early qualification standard to the World Athletics Championships later this year in Eugene.
“A new school record, 6’5″ in the high jump, that’s fifth-best all-time in collegiate history. That is a huge performance,” Texas A&M coach Pat Henry said.
Distin went on to take one jump at the championship record height at 1.99m (6-6.25) but failed to clear the bar. Following the miss, she opted to call it day with two more jumps remaining.
Finishing behind Distin in the event were a pair of LSU jumpers and Rylee Anderson of Kansas. Read more: Day 3 – Raleigh Relays 2022 schedule, live results, how to watch live
Nyagoa Bayak and Abigail O’Donoghue who finished fourth and fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championships earlier this month and Anderson, who was seventh in Birmingham, AL, each cleared 1.82m on Saturday.
The trio tied for second place after finishing with identical records in the competition series.
In the 4x400m relay, the women’s team ran 3:23.30 with a team made up of seniors Tierra Robinson-Jones, and Syaira Richardson, and sophomores Charokee Young and Laila Owens.
The time was the second-fastest mile-relay relay quartet in Aggie history, while Jamaican sprinter Young led the group with an outstanding third leg split of 48.98 seconds.
The men’s team clocked 3:02.41 for second place behind the Florida Gators, with freshman Emmanuel Bamidele leading the way with the fastest split at a time of 44.17.
“The 4x400m looked good, our women ran 3:23.30 and that’s the second-fastest time we’ve ever ran and that’s one of the fastest times in this stadium but we just got nipped at the wire,” Henry added.
“The same on the men’s side, we ran 3:02.41, which isn’t as fast as our season opener but we just got nipped at the wire.
“Charokee and Emmanuel each had huge runs. Charokee at 48.98 and Bamidele at 44.17. I’ve got to put ourselves in better positions to win those kind of races and I think we will be able to run with anybody.”
The Texas A&M teams will return to action this weekend in the Texas vs. Texas A&M Dual Meet, presented by T-Mobile on Saturday, April 2 at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
