Baylor T&F Ends NCAA West Preliminaries with 14 Total Entries to Nationals

[Hutton, Josie]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – May 31, 2025

Baylor T&F Ends NCAA West Preliminaries with 14 Total Entries to Nationals
BU women punch tickets in 200m, 400mH, 4x100 and 4x400 on final day
For more information contact: Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720, josie_hutton at baylor.edu<mailto:josie_hutton at baylor.edu>



COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Baylor track & field completed its time at E.B. Cushing Stadium at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds, ending with 14 total tickets punched to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, taking place in Eugene, Ore. from June 11-14.



On the final day of competition on Saturday, the women’s quarterfinals took place, where Baylor saw advancements in four events of the 200 meters in Tiriah Kelley, the 400 meter hurdles in Calisha Taylor, the 4x100 relay in Kelley, Hannah Lowe, Alexis Brown and Michaela Francois and the 4x400 relay of Summer Sergeant, Kelley, Mariah Ayers and Aaryona Kinchen.



Taylor in the 400mH was a big highlight for the day, as she recorded a sub-56 mark of 55.94 to advance her to her first NCAA Outdoor appearance in her career and break the Baylor program record for the second time this season. Taylor broke her own record that she set at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships just two weeks prior.



Kelley made herself known in her final day in College Station, punching three tickets in the 4x100, 200m and the 4x400. Kelley’s 200m qualification came from a second place finish to earn her a Big Q with a 22.58 (+1.4 m/s) mark. With that mark, Kelley earned her first qualification to Eugene in an individual event.



In the 4x100 relay, the squad finished second in their heat with a 43.15 mark, outracing three teams with season-best marks.



Ending the day with the 4x400 relay, BU competed in Heat 2 with a 3:33.82 mark. Finishing fifth in their heat, the Bears awaited to see their fate. The group erupted into bliss as they squeaked past the cut line in 11th place as the top-12 advance.



In the 100m quarterfinals, Alexis Brown was faced with heartbreak as she finished 13th overall with an 11.18 mark. Brown ends her 100m career as Baylor’s No. 2 performer in program history.



MIKE ON THE MIC

On the day as a whole…

“Yeah, I thought today was going to be that day where the 4x1, even with a bad handoff, we were able to get through,” head coach Michael Ford said. “So, I was pretty proud of the ladies to get through there. Of course, TK (Tiriah Kelley) in the 200. Actually, a wind-legal PR, for her to make it to her first national championship (in an individual event). And then Calisha, school record in the 400 hurdles and qualifying for her first outdoor championship, too. And then the 4x4, just kind of plugging away for them, knowing we couldn’t run Calisha on there, who’s been splitting 52 for us. But we kind of knew that coming in that she probably wouldn’t run.”



BAYLOR ENTRIES TO NCAA OUTDOORS

Igor Olaru – Hammer

Demario Prince – 110mH

Nathaniel Ezekiel – 400mH

De’montray Callis – 200m

Alexis Brown – Long Jump

Janae De Gannes – Long Jump

Molly Haywood – Pole Vault

Tenly Kuhn – Pole Vault

Ruth Kimeli – 10,00m

Calisha Taylor – 400mH

Tiriah Kelley

Women’s 4x100

Women’s 4x400

Men’s 4x400



WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears return to Waco and the 14 event entries will begin preparing for the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.



- BaylorBears<http://www.baylorbears/>.com -



Josie Hutton | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (FB, T&F/XC, MTEN)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: (254) 709-7720

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


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