Indoor Track Update 8

Clemons' 7.81 in 60-hurdles, World's Number One

Above: Christina Clemons (Far right)

Christina Clemons clocked the fastest 60-meter hurdles time in the world this season at 7.81 on Feb. 17, at the Copernicus Cup in Poland.

The 31-year-old former NCAA champion and Diamond League winner, finished ahead of Polish competitors Karolina Kolecek and Pia Skrzyszowska who placed second and third at 7.98 and 8.00 respectively. Kolecek, 28, is a three time national indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles as she took the crown in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Skrzyszowska, 19, had a runner-up finish in the 100-meter hurdles at the European U20 Championships back in 2019. She was the youngest competitor in the 60-meter hurdle finals at the Copernicus Cup.

Five days earlier, Clemons won the 60-meter hurdles at the Orien Cup 2021 meet in Poland as well. In that race, she finished at 7.91, which was also the same time that she ran in the prelim of the Copernicus Cup. Her first victory of 2021 came at the ISTAF Indoor Berlin meet, as she finished the race at 7.83.

During her days at Ohio State in 2012, Clemons won the NCAA championship in the 100-meter hurdles. She also got a silver medal in 2018 at the World Indoor Championships in Great Britain.

Her time of 7.81 at the Copernicus Cup places her ahead of fellow American hurdler Kendra Harrison who ran a time of 7.82 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Feb. 13. Harrison, 28, topped Clemons at the 2018 World Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles to win the gold.

Kayla White Takes 60-meters at New Balance Grand Prix

Above: Kayla White winning at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Former North Carolina A&T sprinter Kayla White, 24, raced to a win at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Feb. 13. Her time of 7.15 currently sits as ninth best in the world. She finished in front of runner-up 25-year-old Hannah Cunliffe's, time of 7.17.

Both competitors were NCAA national champs a short time ago. Cunliffe won the national crown at the 2017 NCAA championships in the 60 meters. White stole the show at the 2019 NCAA indoor meet when she won the 200 meters.

Above: Cunliffe, White, Hill (Photo by Kevin Morris)

White's finish at the New Balance Grand Prix is her personal best in the 60 meters. Prior to this year her best time was 7.25, which was ran during her collegiate days. Also in the race was 22-year-old Candace Hill who just celebrated a birthday on Feb. 11. Hill placed third at 7.19. She has won gold four times in career on the international level. In 2016 she won in the 100 meters and 400-meter relay at the World U20 Championships. The year before she took first in the 100 and 200 meters at the World U18 Championships.

Shafiqua Maloney Climbs College Rankings in 800 Meters

Arkansas' Shafiqua Maloney won the 800-meter run at the Tyson Invitational on Feb. 12. The senior ran a personal best time of 2:04.65, finishing ahead of Florida sophomore Gabrielle Wilkinson (2:05.57) and Texas junior Valery Tobias (2:05.65). Maloney's time is the sixth best among all NCAA Division I competitors. She also sits second in the SEC behind Texas A&M freshman Athing Mu, who ran the nation's best time of 2:01.07 on Jan. 16 at the Ted Nelson Invitational.

Only Five Have Reach Six-Feet in NCAA

Above: Tyra Gittens, jumping 6-3 1/4, Jan. 29.

Among the women's NCAA Division I high jump competitors, only five athletes have cleared six-feet so far this season. Texas A&M redshirt junior Tyra Gittens leads the way at 6-3 1/4. LSU senior Abigail O'Donoghue is second at 6-2 1/4.

Above: Abigail O'Donoghue

The third spot has Georgia sophomore Anna Hall holding things down with a mark of 6-1 1/4. In fourth we have Nissi Kabongo, a sophomore at Stephen F. Austin at 6-0 1/2. The fifth competitor is Cincinnati sophomore Taylor Beard who cleared the bar at six-feet even.

Below: Taylor Beard