The Longhorns might not have finished on top Saturday, but it was a historic day for them at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham.
Freshman Teahna Daniels became the second freshman to ever win the women’s 60 meters in NCAA history with a time of 7.11 seconds, fastest in Texas history. Senior Morolake Akinsoun followed with a fifth place finish, which gave the duo a combined 14 points in the event.
In the 400 meters, senior Courtney Okolo crossed the line to finish first with a time of 50.69 seconds with teammate junior Chrisann Gordon, following behind in third with a time of 51.69 seconds. The duo added a combined 16 points on the women’s side.
Senior Zack Bilderback became the first Longhorn to win the 400 meters with a time of 46.03 seconds. The wins made Texas the third school in NCAA indoor history to sweep the 400 meters.
Senior Ryan Crouser finished his collegiate career by throwing 21.28 meters to claim his fourth overall title in the shot put.
In women’s pole vault, senior Kaitlin Petrillose finished fifth overall to add four team points while sophomore Kally Long tied for 12th place in her first NCAA appearance.
In the 4-by-400 meter relay, the final event of the evening, the women’s team of Gordon, sophomore Ariel Jones, Akinosun, and Okolo won for the second year in a row with a time of 3:28.27. The men’s team of Bilderback and juniors Chris Irvin, Byron Robinson, and AJ Bailey Jr. ran 3:05.26 to take fourth in the event.
The women’s team finished the NCAA Championships at fourth overall while the men’s took fifth overall.
The Longhorns will begin their outdoor season with a meet at TCU next weekend, who will be the host of this year’s Outdoor Big 12 Championships.