Gabby Thomas and Other Sprinters Rise in Rankings Over Weekend

Pro runner Gabby Thomas won the 100-meter dash on April 13, at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C. The former Harvard star, was running for USATF High Performance, when she recorded a personal best legal time of 11.10. Thomas is now 21st in the national rankings according to IAAF.

The runner-up in that race was Charminique Hackney at 11.20. The Alabama State junior's time now ranks fifth in the entire nation on the NCAA Division I level. Hackney is the defending champ in the 100-meter dash in the SWAC.

Ohio State Senior Soleyn Bliss moved into the fourth best time of the 100-meter dash in the Big Ten at the Gamecock Invitational. She placed tenth out 68 sprinters with a personal record time of 11.57. Her previous top time of 11.68 was recorded last year during the prelim round at the Big Ten Outdoor Championship meet. She placed eight in the finals at 11.69. During the indoor championship she placed fifth in the 60-meter dash (7.49).

Youngstown's Elliott holds top 100 and 200-meter times in HL.

Jaliyah Elliott set a new personal record in the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational hosted in Coral Gables, Fla., April 13.

The All-American junior from Youngstown placed 12th (11.53) out of 55 in the 100-meter dash and 11th (23.94) out of 69 in the 200-meter dash. Both finishes are the top times in the Horizon League.

The 100-meter dash was won by pro runner Angela Tenorio (11.28) who ran for Adidas. The native of Ecuador entered the weekend ranked 15th in the world in the event according to the IAAF Rankings.

MAC Sprinters Move Up in Conference Standings at Tennessee Relays

Nicole Yeargin was one of a handful of sprinters in the MAC who had strong performances at the Tennessee Relays in Knoxville on April 11. Yeargin, a junior of Kent State, ran her career best and conference leading time in the 200-meter dash at 23.26, which was seventh out of 20 competitors. Yeargin also placed seventh in the 400-meter dash (54.76), moving up to the fifth best time of the year in the MAC. During indoor season Yeargin won the MAC 200-meter dash title (23.66). She placed second at the outdoor championship in 2018 (23.55).

Central Michigan's Nadia Williams' time of 23.97 in the 200-meter dash at the Tennessee Relays is now the fourth best time in the MAC. Last season, the junior placed seventh (24.33) in the 200-meter dash at the MAC Outdoor Championship. During this year's indoor conference finals she was second (23.84).

Like Yeargin, Micah Johnston also stands strong in the 200- and 400-meter dashes in the MAC. The Eastern Michigan junior ran a time of 23.93 in the 200-meter dash in Knoxville. Yeargin and Williams competed in the 200-meter dash open race, while Johnston was in the 200-meter dash college race, where she placed second. She's currently third in the conference in the 200- as well as in the 400-meter dash. Her third place finish of 54.06 in the 400 was the top time of her career.

The defending indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash champ, Central Michigan junior Gabriella Beauvais was tenth (54.92) of 38 runners at the Tennessee Relays. Her time is now the sixth best in the MAC this season.

Rene Medley is Top Speedster in NCAA Division II

Lincoln's Rene Medley has the top 100-meter dash time (11.33) on the NCAA Division II level. She placed first at the William Jewell Darryl Gourley Invite in Liberty, Mo. Medley, a junior, is a Jamaican sprinter who currently ranks 17th in her country according to the IAAF.

Last year Medley placed second (11.50) in the 100-meter dash at the Division II national finals.