Baylor TF Qualifies 13 to Big 12 Outdoor Conference Finals

[Pirtle, Colin]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – May 13, 2023

Baylor TF Qualifies 13 to Big 12 Outdoor Conference Finals
Ezekiel sets facility record, resets Big 12 meet record in 400-meter hurdles
For more information contact: Colin Pirtle; 940-564-0351, colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu<mailto:colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu>


NORMAN, Okla. – Baylor track and field had 13 Bears with a “Q” next to their name after Saturday’s full slate of competition, which was interrupted by a lightning delay that lasted just over an hour, at the John Jacobs Track and Field Complex.



The Baylor throws crew landed three more on the podium in the shot put. Cole Hardan threw a 61-4 ¼ chunk for sixth, while Gary Moore Jr. went 58-3 ¾ for seventh. In the women’s event, Makayla Long finished in eighth with a 50-11 mark on the first attempt.



Combined, the shot put trio added six points to the BU total on Saturday.



Nathaniel Ezekiel made waves in the preliminary round of the 400-meter hurdles, beating the field by over a second. He reset the Big 12 meet record that he put on the books last year and now holds the facility record at OU’s John Jacobs Track Complex with his 48.74.



In the women’s race, Gontse Morake crossed second in her heat to automatically qualify with a 57.43. Jasmine Gryne originally had a finals-qualifying mark in the event but was disqualified with a hurdle infraction.



Mariah Ayers and Imaobong Uko made it out of the prelims in both the 200 and 400 meters. Ayers went 22.78 in the 200 for a big Q and followed with a 52.11 in the 400 for another big Q. Uko ran a PB of 23.01 in the 200 after going 52.20 in the 400.



Demar Francis crossed second overall in the first rounds of the 200 meters on Saturday after just 20.43 seconds. Kamden Jackson was just behind at 20.53. Both Bears earned big Qs with automatic qualifying marks.



Hasani Barr and Dillon Bedell finished back-to-back at seventh and eighth in the 400 meters to advance to Sunday’s race. Barr hit 45.84, while Bedell was 45.86 and second in his heat.



One Bear advanced to the 100-meter finals on both the men’s and women’s side, with Jackson taking a wind-legal 10.36 at eighth overall in the men’s event. Bullard ran an 11.29 for ninth and a “q” in the women’s race.



Elijah Morris broke the 14-second barrier again in the 110-meter hurdles, this time with a 13.98-second prelim mark to find a lane in the final race.



The steeplechase nearly had a BU finalist, but Hayden Gold missed the cutoff at 10:50.61, less than a second behind the eighth-place finisher from Kansas State.



Kade Hulett ended his 800-meter campaign with a new personal best of 1:51.74. The newly graduated senior finished in 18th before Nicholi Brown in 20th.



Keviah Ealy led the Baylor long jump crew behind a new PB of 20-0 ¼ for 10th, as Koi Johnson finished 17th and Nikayla Fitzgerald was right behind at 18th.



Ukurugenzi Kojo advanced over two bars at the high jump but ended his competition at 6-7 for 12th place.



Due to rain, the pole vault competition was moved to the indoor facility connected to the track. Freshman Tenly Kuhn was up and over one bar at 11-9 ¾ before her day came to an end at 15th, as Lillianna Ifft was over two at 12-3 ½ for 12th.



After all 10 events, the decathlon came to a close with senior Luke Anthony in 12th place with 6,223 points.



With two days of competition in the books, BU trails in both the men’s and women’s tallies. Baylor men have 17 team points and are seven points behind Kansas State, and the women are at two points and 14 behind West Virginia.



WHAT’S NEXT

The final day of the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.<http://espn.com/espnplus/collections/23357/big-12-now-live-upcoming> Live results from DeltaTiming can be found online<https://linktr.ee/BaylorTrack>. Tickets are still available for the final day through the OU ticket office.



- BaylorBears.com -

_________________________________________
Colin Pirtle | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (T&F/XC, MTEN)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 940-564-0351

[signature_2230589939]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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