LUBBOCK, Texas —— Micah Williams of the University of Oregon won the men’s 60m dash at the Texas Tech Open 2023 after Auburn’s Favour Ashe and Don’dre Swint of Texas Tech both pulled out in the final, and Georgia’s Matthew Boling skipped the event altogether in Lubbock.
Williams, who enters this season as the man to beat over the short dash once again, sped to victory on Friday night in a time of 6.49 seconds –setting an all-condition world lead time and improving on the 6.51secs performances by Coby Hilton and Ismael Kone earlier this month.
Racing against a field trimmed down to just five starters after Favour Ashe, Don’dre Swint, and Isaac Botsio did not show for the final, the Oregon speedster got away quickly to take control of the contest early before he raced home to post the fifth sub-6.50 seconds performance of his career.
Azeem Fahmi of Auburn ran well for a second-place finish at 6.65 secs, while the podium spots were completed by Rodney Heath Jr. of Louisiana Tech, who ran a time of 6.67 secs for third. Read more: Camryn Newton-Smith breaks records – Texas Tech Multis
Meanwhile, the time for Micah Williams on Friday is just .01 seconds off his school record of 6.48, which he achieved twice during the 2022 season. It was the second victory this term for the 21-year-old American who had opened the new campaign with a quick 6.54 at the 2023 Cougar Classic Invitational in Spokane, two weeks ago.
Matthew Boling was initially listed on the start sheet, but the Georgia dynamic sprinter withdrew before the opening heats were contested. Read Also: Christian Coleman runs 20.64, wins 200m at Razorback Invitational
Williams had qualified as the quickest performer from the first round heats after running 6.54 secs, while Favour Ashe, another man to look out for this season in the sprints, was also a heat winner with 6.55 before pulling out in the final.
