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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a name="_Hlk490052374"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">February
27, 2021</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor Track & Field: Jones, Miller and Women’s 4x4 Win Big 12 Titles</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Bears finish with 93 points in women’s standings, 51 points on men’s side.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">*COMPLETE RESULTS ATTACHED*<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">LUBBOCK, Texas –
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Deshaun Jones won the men’s 60-meter hurdles, Aaliyah Miller cruised to victory in the women’s 800 meters, and the Baylor women’s 4x400-meter relay won to close the final day of the 2021
Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championship Saturday at the Sports Performance Center.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“It was the typical track & field weekend where you have some unbelievable performances and you have some disappointments that end up impacting your team’s championship finish,”
head coach Todd Harbour said. “We’re disappointed that the men weren’t able to have a few more bodies standing at the end. We couldn’t even run a 4x4, so that was tough. It’s the first time that’s ever happened.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The women’s 4x400-meter relay saved arguably the best for last, running a Big 12-best 3:31.90 to take home the victory. Kavia Francis opened up with 53.11 to give the Bears a
solid lead, and she passed it off to Arria Minor who clocked 52.04 to keep the distance. Miller ran the third leg in 52.90 to maintain the lead. She passed it off to Lily Williams, who relinquished the lead within the first 200 but kept Texas in her sights
and regained the lead on the second 200 before closing strong to record a 53.86 split and give Baylor a one-second win.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“To close it off with the 4x4 to run like that, that’s a big four-second drop for them,” Harbour said. “Those ladies ran incredible, all four of them. Arria and Aaliyah, Kavia
led off a great leg, passed it off and they were running from the front and then put Lily in the fire and she’s about as tough as there is. It was just a great, great effort.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Jones, a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, joined the team in January and less than two months later won his first Big 12 Championship in the 60-meter hurdles. He clocked a
personal-best time of 7.86 to take home the victory and score 10 points for Baylor. Eli Morris took seventh with a time of 8.02 to add two points for the Bears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“What can you say about Deshaun and the weekend he had,” Harbour said. “To come into conference after coming in at midterm and to have that kind of performance, he was definitely
a highlight for the men.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Miller put on a show in the women’s 800 meters, cruising to a four-second victory and breaking the Big 12 meet record set by Marleena Eubanks of Kansas in 2019. Miller clocked
in at 2:02.98 to score 10 points for Baylor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Aaliyah put on a nice race in the 800,” Harbour said. “You can’t run it much better than that. Now she’s the Big 12 record holder indoor and outdoor. That’s pretty impressive.
It’s a pretty neat deal for her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">In the women’s 60-meter hurdles, Ackera Nugent followed up Friday’s record-setting performance with a time of 7.98 and a runner-up finish to score eight points for the Bears.
Kennedy Bailey finished sixth in 8.33 to score three points for the Bears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“What Ackera did the last two days is incredible,” Harbour said. “To run a school record yesterday and follow it up with a runner-up finish in the final was big for her. She
and Kennedy ran fantastic.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Lily Williams and Chris DuPree pulled off the runner-up double in the women’s and men’s 600 yards. Williams ran a personal-best time of 1:20.88, while DuPree ran a PB of his
own at 1:08.59. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Chris, a freshman, to battle like he did in the 600 was impressive,” Harbour said. “In my opinion, it’s maybe one of the toughest races in the meet. It’s just hard. Lily’s 600
was amazing. I’m proud of both of them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Arria Minor blazed to a third-place finish in the women’s 200 meters after winning heat one with a personal-best time of 23.03. The sophomore from Denver, Colo., scored six points
for Baylor while Mariah Ayers followed in fifth place (personal-best 23.54) to add four points.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Arria and Mariah both ran outstanding in the 200,” Harbour said. “They both had PBs, a big day for both of them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Kavia Francis continued her ascension with another personal best in the women’s 400 meters, this time clocking in at 52.86 to take fourth and register five points for Baylor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Kavia got a huge PB in the 400,” Harbour said. “That was huge. I think she started the season at about 56 [seconds], and now look where she is. Incredible.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Hasani Barr placed fourth as well in the men’s 400 meters, registering a personal-best time of 46.65.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Baylor scored a total of eight points in the women’s 60 meters, as Sydney Washington (7.47) placed fourth, Demitra Carter (7.57) took seventh and Caira Pettway (7.61) finished
eighth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“The 60 meters I thought was outstanding,” Harbour said. “I thought for Demitra and Caira to make the finals was awesome, and Sydney ran great.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">In the men’s 60 meters, Kamden Jackson placed fourth with a time of 6.68 to score five points for Baylor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Kam had a nice 60 coming back off the hamstring,” Harbour said. “It’s good to see him back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Alyssa Miller placed fifth in the women’s high jump with a season-best mark of 5-8.75 (1.75m), Celia Holmes took sixth in the women’s mile with a time of 5:04.91, and Mazie Larsen
finished eighth in the women’s 1,000 meters with a time of 2:59.99 to round out the scoring for Baylor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“It was an up and down emotional weekend,” Harbour said. “We had a few key injuries, and it was disappointing because we were hoping to finish a little better as a team. We thought
we could get 100 points on the ladies’ side but came up a little short of that. We had a few little misfires, but we had some unbelievable performances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“It’s tough when you’re looking at team vs. individual performances. We had some outstanding performances, but we needed a few more of them. We won’t make excuses, but we’re
trying to recover, get a few guys healthy and be the team that we need to be for outdoors.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Baylor track & field will close the indoor season March 11-13 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. The Bears are currently slated to take 11 student-athletes
to nationals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">For continued updates on the Baylor Track & Field team, follow the team's social media accounts all season long: @BaylorTrack.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black">__________________________________</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#154734">Kellen Coleman</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#18481F"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">|
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Associate Director of Communications</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">O: 254-710-4049 | C: 254-749-6507</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> </span><a href="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="153" height="43" style="width:1.5937in;height:.4479in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D70D5D.249EB760" alt="/var/folders/pf/02zg9swd0fz7qy7f5nkl4mymsr0bxx/T/com.microsoft.Outlook/WebArchiveCopyPasteTempFiles/cidimage004.png@01D50713.9CE40560"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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