Baylor T&F Distance Alters Program Record Book on First Day of Battle on the Bayou

[Pirtle, Colin]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 29, 2024

Baylor T&F Distance Alters Program Record Book on First Day of Battle on the Bayou
Bears add three top-10 marks in 1,500 and steeplechase
For more information contact: Colin Pirtle; 940-564-0351, colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu<mailto:colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu>


BATON ROUGE, La. – Baylor track and field opened up the Battle on the Bayou at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium on Friday afternoon at LSU.



The women’s distance crew highlighted the showing for the Bears, as they added three new all-time marks to the program record book between the 1,500 meters and the 3,000-meter steeplechase.



2023 NCAA bronze medalist, Nathaniel Ezekiel, made his return to the 400-meter hurdles on Friday with another solid race that puts him top-2 in the nation.



THE RUNDOWN

Ellie Hodge and Rachel Hickey recorded impressive performances in the women’s 1,500 meters on Friday evening in Louisiana. Both Bears punched new PRs for their career in the event and moved up the ranks in the program’s all-time marks. Hodge ran a 4:17.98 for fifth at the meet and fourth in program history, while Hickey went 4:21.28 for ninth at the meet and ninth in BU history.



Winning her second-consecutive 3,000-meter steeplechase in Baton Rouge in as many years, Hayden Gold tallied a PB in the event at 19:39.58. She moves into the No. 10 spot all-time in program history.



Making his season debut in his key race, Ezekiel, the two-time All-American in the event, put down a 49.57-second race for second in the event. Both Ezekiel and the winning Chris Robinson from Alabama set meet records in the event, and the two entered the national lists in the top two spots.



There were four Bears that all crossed in a top-12 spot in the men’s 200 meters on Friday night, led by Demar Francis in the silver-medal position. Behind a breezy 2.1 m/s wind reading in his heat, the senior from Jamaica ran a 20.63 ahead of De’montray Callis in sixth, Laurenz Colbert in 10th and Kamden Jackson in 11th.



Jasmine Gryne put up a sub-60 time in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line eighth after 58.81 seconds. Freshman Sima Lucero was 17th and was followed by Audrey Williamson in 23rd.



The women’s 200 meters featured Tiriah Kelley leading the BU contingent with a season-best mark of 23.46 for 11th place. Kayla Hunt was quickly behind with a personal best of 23.88 for 19th.



Trpimir Siroki, a newcomer in his second time wearing the green and gold, took the fifth-place spot in the men’s long jump with a 24-4 ½ wind-legal mark on his second attempt, a mark that is just shy of his opening performance at the Clyde Hart Classic that hit 24-7.



Victoria Adu and Makalya Long opened the day for the Bears in the women’s hammer throw. Adu put a 174-1 throw in the books to qualify for the final three throws and finish eighth, while Long put up a 164-5, her best throw of the season, for 12th.



Ale Rutenis and Nikayla Fitzgerald took 10th and 11th place finishes, respectively, in the women’s high jump with Rutenis’ season-best mark of 19-0 ½ mark to lead. Bella Copeland also competed and finished 15th.



Aiden Ramshaw and Ben Archer, both newcomers in their debut outdoor collegiate season, finished back-to-back in the men’s 1,500 meters. Ramshaw led Archer, going 27th and 28th, respectively.



UP NEXT

The Bears return to the Bernie Moore Track Stadium on Saturday to complete the Battle on the Bayou. The first event begins at 10 a.m., and the meet is scheduled to end with the men’s 4x400-meter relay at 2:50 p.m. CT.



- BaylorBears.com -

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

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

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