T&F: Prince Part of History-Making Race

[Hill, Jerry]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS June 10, 2026
 ,
T&F: Prince Part of History-Making Race
Junior hurdler finishes 2nd behind world record-setter
For more information contact: Jerry Hill; 254-709-4994, jerry_hill at baylor.edu<mailto:jerry_hill at baylor.edu>

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS<https://flashresults.com/2026_Meets/Outdoor/06-10_NCAA/index.htm>

EUGENE, Ore. – Running a wind-legal season best of 13.15 seconds, Baylor junior Demario Prince advanced to the finals of the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championship at Hayward Field.

But Prince was also part of history in Wednesday’s semifinals, finishing second in his heat behind Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn’s world-record setting time of 12.75, eclipsing the previous mark of 12.80 set by Aries Merritt 13 years ago.

“Obviously, (Sharp) got out,” said Prince, who was fifth at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championship before winning the bronze medal in the 60-meter hurdles at this year’s NCAA Indoor. “I didn’t think I had my cleanest race, but I just saw him start moving away and tried to chase him. But when you’re chasing a world record, it’s very hard. Kudos to him.”

Prince had the third-fastest time in the semifinals, with Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood winning the opening heat in a time of 13.02 seconds that ranked as the No. 2 mark in the world this year until Sharp did him one better.

“In the back of my mind, I knew it was going to take 12 seconds (under 13) to win this race,” said Prince, who had his career PR of 13.12 at last summer’s Jamaican World Championship Trials. “Obviously, it’s 12 seconds already in the semi. In order to win, I have to go after the world record. So, we’ll see how that goes.”

In Baylor’s only other event on the opening day of the NCAA Championship, the men’s 4x400-meter relay of Aren Spencer, Malik Franklin, Bailey Hashmi and Tyler Honeyman were scheduled to run after the completion of the men’s 10,000 meters.

On Thursday, the meet shifts to the women, with Baylor having a busy day. Senior All-American Tiriah Kelley is competing in the 100 and 200 meters and leading off the 4x100-meter relay, while Serafima Lucero (400-meter hurdles) and Ruth Kimeli (10,000 meters) will also run.

In the field events, Molly Haywood and Tenly Kuhn go into the pole vault finals with top-10 marks, with sophomore Janae De Gannes going for her first podium finish at the NCAA Championship in the long jump.

For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.



WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS



110-meter hurdles: Demario Prince, 2nd in heat and third-fastest time overall, 13.15 (advances to Friday’s final)



4x400-meter relay:





THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

(all times Central)


7:05 p.m.: 4x100 Relay Semifinals (Tiriah Kelley, Hannah Lowe, Jada Edwards, Royaltee Brown)

7:35 p.m.: Pole Vault Finals, Molly Haywood, Tenly Kuhn

8:25 p.m.: 100m Semifinals, Tiriah Kelley

8:40 p.m.: Long Jump Finals, Janae De Gannes

9:14 p.m.: 400m Hurdles Semifinals, Serafima Lucero

9:29 p.m.: 200m Semifinals, Tiriah Kelley

9:56 p.m.: 10,000m Final, Ruth Kimeli


Jerry Hill | Director of Sports Journalism (T&F/XC/MG/WG)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-709-4994

[Image]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.baylor.edu/pipermail/localmedia/attachments/20260611/b56678e0/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: img-3007e94e-184b-4aaa-bec0-c0a02aff981a.png
Type: image/png
Size: 7643 bytes
Desc: img-3007e94e-184b-4aaa-bec0-c0a02aff981a.png
URL: <http://mailman.baylor.edu/pipermail/localmedia/attachments/20260611/b56678e0/attachment-0001.png>