Mapaya Records Top Triple Jump Mark
1/29/2021 8:40:00 PM | Men's Indoor Track, Women's Indoor Track
LUBBOCK, Texas — TCU's men's and women's track and field teams completed the first of two days at the Texas Tech Invitational.
Du Airlines Flies in 2021 Debut
Chengetayi (Du) Mapaya made his 2021 debut and didn't disappoint. The senior jumped 16.63m and now owns the top mark in the nation.
Mapaya returned for his senior indoor campaign to defend his national title in the outdoor triple jump from 2019. He also garnered a bronze medal at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships as well. As a freshman in 2018, Mapaya reached the championship in the triple jump and finished third with a 16.38m (53-9) jump.
Mapaya secured his national championship in the most dramatic fashion possible. Going into his sixth and final jump of the night, Mapaya was in third place after a jump of 16.94m (55-7) in his fifth attempt. On the final jump of the competition, Mapaya jumped 17.13m (56-2.5) passing up event leader Jordan Scott of Virginia (17.01m, 55-9.75) and winning the national championship.
It was TCU's first national title in track and field since Ronnie Baker won the 60m dash in 2016. The Harare, Zimbabwe, native is a five-time All-American.
What's Better Than Two? Three
Three Frogs qualified for the men's 60m finals. TJ Brock (6.68), Tinotenda Matiyenga (6.69) and Blake Hennesay (6.70) finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Hennesay's time was a personal-best while Matiyenga tied his collegiate-best time from the New Mexico Team Open last season.
The Frogs appear very deep in the event as Jais Smith, who won the 60m dash at the Aggie Invitational this past weekend (6.73), did not compete in Lubbock today.
Men's 400m
Ethan Brown clocked a 46.69 en route to third place in the 400m. Glenn Bender also qualified for finals, finishing eighth (47.90). This was Bender's first race of 2021 and Brown's third competition as a Horned Frog.
In just his second collegiate race, Brown scored at the 2020 Big 12 Indoor Championship. He ran a 47.49 in the 400m, finishing 8th.
Men's 60mH Finals
Junior Rainey Anderson ran an eight flat for a fourth-place finish in the 60mH finals. Anderson dropped .10 from his prelim time.
Women's 60m Finals
Hope Glenn finished sixth in the women's 60m finals (7.68) and placed second in her prelim heat (7.64).
Women's Pole Vault
Tysen Townsend nearly broke her own school record (12-11 3/4, 3.96m), but fell just short of 13-1 3/4 (4.01m).
Players Mentioned
