TCU
TCU Invitational
Preview: TCU Invitational
3/18/2021 1:45:00 PM | Men's Outdoor Track, Women's Outdoor Track
FORT WORTH — TCU's track and field squads open the 2021 outdoor season at home at the TCU Invitational.
No fans are allowed at the meet.
Meet Day Information
Date: March 20, 2021
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Venue: Lowdon Track & Field Complex
Teams attending: Arkansas State, North Texas, Northwestern State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, UTA
Live Results: Flash Results - Click here
USTFCCCA Rankings
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) ranked TCU's men's track and field team No. 25 at the conclusion of indoor season. The first set of outdoor rankings debut on March 23.
Just Du It
Chengetayi (Du) Mapaya returns for his senior campaign to defend his national title in the outdoor triple jump from 2019 (16.83m / 55-2.75). He also garnered a silver medal at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships (16.95m / 57-7.5) and a bronze medal at the 2019 indoor edition (16.61m / 54-6) as well. As a freshman in 2018, Mapaya reached the indoor championship in the triple jump and finished third with a 16.38m (53-9) jump. His worst finish at the national meet came during outdoor season as a freshman in 2018 when he jumped 16.42m en route to 5th place and First-team All-America honors.
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 six-time All-American.
Record Breaker
Mapaya's silver medal mark (16.95m / 55-7.5) broke Ndabazihle Mdhlongwa's Zimbabwe indoor triple jump record from 1998 (16.89m), as well as TCU's school record.
His jump also noted a new indoor personal best for the Harare, Zimbabwe, native. The senior's previous best indoor jump was 16.85m (55-3.5) at the Texas Tech Shootout that set a TCU record earlier this year.
The Bowerman
Mapaya received votes in the Mid-Indoor Watch List for The Bowerman.
Mapaya was also named to The Bowerman's Preseason Watch List in 2020. He is the third student-athlete from TCU to appear on the watch list (Ronnie Baker, 2016) (Whitney Gipson, 2012). Charles Silmon was a semifinalist for the award in 2013, but did not appear on a watch list - a distinction that is announced after the season is over.
The Bowerman is the highest honor bestowed to collegiate track & field's most outstanding athletes of the year. This is the 13th year of the award program, having started in 2009.
Only ten men and ten women will be on the official watch list during each update. Semifinalists from the previous year are automatically on the preseason watch list provided they are returning.
2021 Indoor All-Americans
Chengetayi (Du) Mapaya - First-Team - Triple Jump
Robert Gregory Jr. - Second-Team - 200m
Tinotenda Matiyenga - Second-Team - 200m
Returning Outdoor All-Americans
Destiny Longmire - First-Team - Long Jump
Chengetayi (Du) Mapaya - First-Team - Triple Jump
Derrick Mokaleng - Second-Team - 400m
Andrews, Bender, Matiyenga and Mokaleng - Second-Team - 4x400
Players Mentioned
