The Red Raider track & field program hosted its second meet of the season, the Red Raider Invitational, bringing in two new school records, a new NCAA All-Time record and 22 personal-best performances.
To wipe away a 20-year old school record, Divine Oduduru ran a blazing-fast 200-meter dash time of 20.49 for first place overall. Oduduru not only tops the national list, but sits as the current world leader. This 20.49 race beat out the current record held by Josephus Howard at the Rocky Mountain Cup in January of 1998.
Vincent Crisp was second to clinch a record, topping LaToy Williams’ previous 600-yard time of 1:08.53 from 2010. The junior clocked a 1:08.16 run, topping the 1987 All-Time NCAA record held by Roddie Haley of Arkansas.
Freshman Kaylor Harris had an impressive day in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, clocking an 8.17 personal-best run for first place overall.
A No. 5 world –ranked 400-meter dash was secured by senior, Steven Champlin. His 46.46 run also ranks first in the nation and is his first personal-best in the event since the 2015 Big 12 Indoor Championship.
Tiffani Johnson broke through her 60-meter dash barrier in the finals with her personal-best 7.43 run, after tying her personal-best last week of 7.48 in the preliminaries.
Justin Hall and Charles Brown swept first-place finishes in the vertical jumps fronts, Hall in the long jump and Brown in the triple jump. Hall improved to a 7.79m/25-6.75 personal-best on his first attempt in the long jump, which remained his best for the remainder of the series. Brown also got an early lead, with a 16.03m/52-7.25 first-attempt leap.
Zarriea Willis inked her name in another top-10 Texas Tech high jump spot, this time at No. 2, with a season-best 1.83m/6-0.
The meet was closed out with a personal-best pole vault performance from Brandon Bray, concluding the day at a height of 5.32m/17-5.50.
Next up, the Red Raiders host back-to-back meets on Friday and Saturday of next week. The Red & Black Open will be a one-day meet taking place on Friday, January 26. The Texas Tech Invitational & Multis will be the first two-day meet held on Friday and Saturday.
(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)