University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Kamph
Track And Field Has Record Setting Regional Saturday
May 25, 2019 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
The program saw the men's 4x100m relay record fall, tying the highest number of NCAA Championship qualifiers in the process.
Jacksonville, Fla. – As Davon DeMoss loaded in to the blocks early Saturday evening for heat one of the men's 4x100 meter relay, the feeling that something special was moments away from happening was palpable. Exactly 39.19 seconds after the starting gun was fired, Andrew Bishop leaned with all his might across the finish line to secure a trip to Austin, TX. for his relay squad in a school record time, eclipsing the old record by a shattering .28 seconds.
DeMoss started the race with one of his most explosive starts of the entire season, beating his competitors to the first exchange zone and putting his team in an excellent position.
Imri Persiado, who took the baton from DeMoss, continued to push with an unmatched ferocity until he met his sophomore teammate, Calvin Austin III. Austin III took the baton, leaned in to the final curve, and rocketed towards Bishop who would bear the responsibility of bringing home the team, just as he had all season.
Memphis was synchronized in their final exchange with two other teams, and after a vigorous home stretch, Bishop leaned at the line to secure another race for the explosive quartet. Bishop reflected on his furious trip down the homestretch by saying, "I felt like a sheep with wolves attacking me on the homestretch, but I'd rather be chased than the one chasing."
In other action, the men's high jump saw Noah Agnew, a junior for the Tigers who came in to the event ranked 47th in the region, have a graceful clearance of the first bar at 2.01 meters, an equivalent of six feet and seven inches. Agnew would later progress to a bar height of 2.06 meters, an equivalent of six feet and nine inches. Agnew cleared that bar on his second attempt to finish in a tie for 31st overall.
Saida Burns-Moore competed well in the women's triple jump, posting a mark of 12.82 meters, an equivalent of forty-two feet and three quarter inches, and finished 14th overall in the competition. Burns-Moore, a competitor in the third flight of the event, came in to the event ranked 14th in the region.
To close out the day, DeMoss graced the track for an impressive fifth time over the three-day meet. Thinking back on task he undertook over the past three days, DeMoss said, "I'm tired, for sure, but it makes me happy that I can pull it off at a meet like this. It's a testament to our great staff and the hard work I've put in."
When the dust settled down, the Tigers are walking away from one of the most successful Regional Championships in program history, qualifying nine athletes for the National Championships for the second year in a row.
2019 NCAA Championships (Austin, Texas) Qualifiers (9)
Fast Facts:
Complete Results
Men's
4x100m Relay – 6. Davon DeMoss, Imri Persiado, Calvin Austin III, Andrew Bishop, 39.19
200m (QT) – 20. Davon DeMoss, 20.86
High Jump – T31. Noah Agnew, 2.06m (6' 9").
Women's
Triple Jump – 14. Saida Burns-Moore, 12.82m (42' .75"), 44. Sandra Ekblom, 11.94m (39' 2.25"), 46. Christian Hill, 11.45m (37' 6.75").
DeMoss started the race with one of his most explosive starts of the entire season, beating his competitors to the first exchange zone and putting his team in an excellent position.
Imri Persiado, who took the baton from DeMoss, continued to push with an unmatched ferocity until he met his sophomore teammate, Calvin Austin III. Austin III took the baton, leaned in to the final curve, and rocketed towards Bishop who would bear the responsibility of bringing home the team, just as he had all season.
Memphis was synchronized in their final exchange with two other teams, and after a vigorous home stretch, Bishop leaned at the line to secure another race for the explosive quartet. Bishop reflected on his furious trip down the homestretch by saying, "I felt like a sheep with wolves attacking me on the homestretch, but I'd rather be chased than the one chasing."
In other action, the men's high jump saw Noah Agnew, a junior for the Tigers who came in to the event ranked 47th in the region, have a graceful clearance of the first bar at 2.01 meters, an equivalent of six feet and seven inches. Agnew would later progress to a bar height of 2.06 meters, an equivalent of six feet and nine inches. Agnew cleared that bar on his second attempt to finish in a tie for 31st overall.
Saida Burns-Moore competed well in the women's triple jump, posting a mark of 12.82 meters, an equivalent of forty-two feet and three quarter inches, and finished 14th overall in the competition. Burns-Moore, a competitor in the third flight of the event, came in to the event ranked 14th in the region.
To close out the day, DeMoss graced the track for an impressive fifth time over the three-day meet. Thinking back on task he undertook over the past three days, DeMoss said, "I'm tired, for sure, but it makes me happy that I can pull it off at a meet like this. It's a testament to our great staff and the hard work I've put in."
When the dust settled down, the Tigers are walking away from one of the most successful Regional Championships in program history, qualifying nine athletes for the National Championships for the second year in a row.
2019 NCAA Championships (Austin, Texas) Qualifiers (9)
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Fast Facts:
- With Demoss now having qualified for the National Championships in one relay and one individual event, he becomes the first male athlete to accomplish the feat since 1973, when Ed Taylor qualified for the 440 yard dash and was a part of the 440 yard relay.
- The qualification of the men's 4x100m relay is a first in program history. The predecessor to the event, the 440 yard relay saw the Tigers qualify for the National Championship in 1972 and 1973.
- Davon DeMoss and Calvin Austin III made history as the first two members of the program to qualify for the National Championship meet in consecutive years while competing in different relay events.
Complete Results
Men's
4x100m Relay – 6. Davon DeMoss, Imri Persiado, Calvin Austin III, Andrew Bishop, 39.19
200m (QT) – 20. Davon DeMoss, 20.86
High Jump – T31. Noah Agnew, 2.06m (6' 9").
Women's
Triple Jump – 14. Saida Burns-Moore, 12.82m (42' .75"), 44. Sandra Ekblom, 11.94m (39' 2.25"), 46. Christian Hill, 11.45m (37' 6.75").
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and FieldSprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and FieldThrows
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