Johnson Breaks Previous 800m Program Record
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On the final day of the UNF Invitational and the last regular season meet of the outdoor campaign, Kayla Johnson improved her program record in the 800m run.
Johnson finished with the top collegiate time at 2:02.94, besting her previous program record in the event she set in 2018 at 2:03.04. Friday’s time currently ranks as the No. 10 time in the NCAA and the third-fastest in the conference.
Debbie Ajagbe began the day in the women’s hammer throw with the top collegiate mark of 59.40m, her second-best mark of the season. Kevin Arreaga also boasted the top collegiate mark to finish third overall with his mark of 68.25m in the hammer.
Four hurdlers advanced to the finals as Tiara McMinn finished with the top qualifying time at 12.86 seconds, which marks a season best for the junior. Michelle Atherley finished sixth at 13.21 and Lauryn Harris claimed the final spot in the finals at 13.50 seconds. Harris finished fourth overall with her time of 13.44.
Xavier Coakley advanced to the 110m hurdles finals and finished seventh at 14.16 seconds against a strong head wind.
The women’s 4×100 relay of Harris, Alfreda Steele, Jacious Sears and McMinn cracked another top five spot on the Miami all-time list tied for No. 3 with a time of 43.49. The group previously ran the fifth-fastest time at 43.56 earlier this season.
The men’s relay featured a new combination as Coakley led the way with Asa Burke, Mike Harley and Jalen Gordon and finished sixth with a time of 41.12.
Solomon Strader posted Miami’s top 400m dash time at 46.67 seconds to finish sixth, while Khamal Stewart-Baynes debuted his outdoor season finishing ninth with a time of 47.10. Oskars Bambals and Gordon finished with times of 49.26 and 49.28, respectively.
Raheem Chambers finished seventh overall and posted the third-best collegiate time in the 100m dash at 10.37 seconds.
The women’s 4×400 relay closed the day with a three-second season best time of 3:33.43. Kennedy Brace, Sierra Oliveira, Atherley and Johnson’s time currently closes out the top 20 in the relay in the NCAA.
