McRae equals No. 11 performer in American indoor history, elevates to No. 12 all-time collegiate competitor by clocking 45.02 seconds in Albuquerque; Alfred wins 60-meter dash in 7.04, LSU’s Armstrong runs 7.91 in 60 hurdles, with Texas’ Neugebauer producing 6,219 heptathlon effort

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos courtesy of Alabama and Shawn Price

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Khaleb McRae has continued to practice patience throughout his track and field career, even when the events he runs are completed in less than a minute.

During a journey from Southern Durham High in North Carolina to South Plains College in Texas and now as a senior at Alabama, McRae has waited for his opportunity in the national spotlight.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

McRae not only got the rest of the country’s attention Saturday at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, but the 23-year-old competitor also placed himself on the global sprinting map with his performance in the men’s seeded 400 meters at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

McRae clocked a world-leading 45.02 seconds to equal the No. 11 performer in American indoor history and elevate to the No. 12 all-time collegiate indoor competitor. Brian Herron of Texas finished second in 45.54.

McRae, who earned eighth in the 400 final in July at the USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Oregon, had run 45.12 in the outdoor 400 in May to secure sixth place at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Baton Rouge, La.

His only previous sub-46 indoor 400 effort before Saturday came on the same 200-meter banked track at the Albuquerque Convention Center last year, running 45.96 at the Don Kirby Invitational.

McRae also ran 20.76 on Friday to finish fourth in the 200, an event won by Alabama teammate and Ugandan standout Tarsis Orogot in 20.34.

Another pair of teammates to excel Saturday in Albuquerque were LSU hurdlers Alia Armstrong and Leah Phillips.

Armstrong, the collegiate leader, prevailed in 7.91 seconds and Phillips ran 7.99 to place second, just ahead of former Arizona All-American Talie Bonds, who ran a personal-best 8.00 in her first professional season in preparation for the USATF Indoor Championships on Feb. 16-17 in Albuquerque.

Armstrong also ran 7.29 to finish fifth in the invitational 60-meter dash, with Phillips clocking 23.35 to take 10th in the 200. Phillips has achieved four sub-8 performances in her career, three coming in Albuquerque, including a lifetime-best 7.95 last year to finish fourth at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships.

LSU added victories with Jahiem Stern edging Cal State Fullerton’s Abel Jordan in the men’s 60 hurdles by a 7.71 to 7.72 margin.

Myles Thomas prevailed in the men’s invitational 60-meter dash for the Tigers in 6.59, with Marcellus Moore from Texas clocking 6.60 and Arkansas’ Jordan Anthony taking third against Nolton Shelvin of the Longhorns by a 6.612 to 6.619 margin.

It was another strong day for Texas stars past and present, with female Bowerman Award recipient and first-year professional athlete Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia clocking 7.04 to win the women’s invitational 60-meter dash final. Alfred, representing Preeminence Sports, ran a world-leading 22.16 in the 200 as part of Friday’s schedule.

Tennessee senior Jacious Sears was second in the 60 in 7.09, after also placing runner-up in the 200 in 22.57. The Volunteers also swept the men’s and women’s 4x400 relays in 3:04.30 and 3:31.19, respectively.

Rhasidat Adeleke, representing Ireland and JRS Sports Management, won the women’s seeded 400 in 51.12, finishing ahead of another former Texas standout Lanae-Tava Thomas in 51.67.

German competitor Leo Neugebauer triumphed for the Longhorns in the heptathlon with a personal-best 6,219 points, improving by five points from his third-place performance at last year’s Division 1 indoor championship meet to remain the No. 5 all-time collegiate performer.

Neugebauer, who had 3,643 points on Friday, opened Saturday’s competition by running 8.25 in the 60-meter hurdles, but a 15-9 (4.80m) clearance in the pole vault halted his momentum, before concluding with a 2:46.10 effort in the 1,000 meters.

Nina Ndubuisi, a freshman at Texas also representing Germany, won the women’s shot put with a personal-best 59-4 (18.08m).

Arizona teammates Zach Landa and Tyler Michelini took the top two spots in the men’s shot put. Landa prevailed with a fourth-round effort of 61-7.50 (18.74m) and Michelini capped his series with a sixth-round mark of 61-2.25 (18.65m).

Jasmine Moore, a Florida graduate who swept Division 1 indoor long jump and triple jump titles in Albuquerque last year, prevailed in the triple jump Saturday with a fifth-round mark of 47-0.75 (14.34m).

Georgia’s Mikeisha Welcome was the top collegiate athlete in the field, finishing second at 44-4.25 (13.52m).

Bradley Jelmert of Arkansas triumphed in the men’s pole vault competition by clearing 18-2.50 (5.55m) on his second try, edging former Sam Houston State All-American Clayton Fritsch and Rice athlete Alexander Slinkman on fewer overall attempts.

Jelmert is still the No. 2 collegiate competitor this season at 18-9.25 (5.72m).

Louisville’s Roman Kuleshov won the men’s triple jump with a 50-4.75 (15.36m) effort in the opening round.

New Mexico athletes swept the men’s and women’s mile races, with Mercy Kirarei building a significant lead, before holding off teammate Hanna Bruckmayer by a 4:48.35 to 4:48.63 margin.

Samuel Field clocked 4:09.29 to prevail in the men’s mile for the Lobos.

Luke Cunningham added another New Mexico win in the men’s 800 in 1:52.60, with Cal State Fullerton’s Jonathan Pfieffer clocking 1:52.81 to secure second.

Analisa Ibarra made it a Lobos’ sweep by winning the women’s 800 in 2:17.44, with Cal State Fullerton teammates Ashlynn Viramontes (2:17.54) and Nanette Novak (2:17.75) taking second and third.