TCU
Michael Johnson Invitational
Preview: Michael Johnson Invitational
4/16/2021 10:15:00 AM | Men's Outdoor Track, Women's Outdoor Track
FORT WORTH — TCU's track and field travels to Waco, Texas, for its fifth outdoor meet of the season. The Michael Johnson Invitational features an elite field of six top-25 men's teams and four top-25 squads on the women's side.
Meet Day Information
Date: April 16-17, 2021
Location: Waco, Texas
Venue: Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium
Teams Attending: Abilene Christian, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Northern Illinois, North Texas, Oklahoma State, SFA, Tarleton, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech
Live Results: Delta Timing - Click here
Best in the Big 12
Ten-time All-American Derrick Mokaleng won the Baylor Invitational's 400m with a 45.65. The senior's mark sits atop the Big 12 ranks. His personal-best time, 45.02, is also TCU's school record.
Rainey Anderson also took his event, the 110m hurdles, running a career-best and Big 12-leading 13.93.
Robert Gregory Jr.'s wind-aided time of 20.14 from the Texas A&M Team Invitational in the 200m is first in the Big 12.
Big 12 Athletes of the Week
A pair of Horned Frogs were honored as Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week following their standout performances at the TCU Invitational. Gregory Jr. was tabbed the Men's Athlete of the Week, while Destiny Longmire earned Women's Athlete of the Week.
Gregory clocked a 20.67 to win the men's 200m. His mark ranks No. 13 in the nation and third in the Big 12. The freshman was also the anchor of TCU's 4x100 relay.
Longmire, a senior, set a personal best in the long jump, leaping 6.59m (21-7.5) en route to a first-place finish at the TCU Invitational. Her mark is fourth in the country.
Regional Watch
The regional field size has been reduced from 48 to 32 individuals this season to address COVID-19 concerns. Relay events will remain at 24 teams per event.
Top 32 Regional Marks:
Men
100m
T-No. 8 Brock (10.27)
T-No. 8 Gregory (10.27)
T-No. 21 Maguranyanga (10.38)
T-No. 30 Matiyenga (10.44)
100mH
T-No. 14 Anderson (13.93)
200m
No. 5 Matiyenga (20.66)
T-No. 6 Robert Gregory (20.67) (20.14 w+4.6)
T-No. 30 Maguranyanga (21.05)
400m
No. 4 Derrick Mokaleng (45.65)
4x100
No. 6 Brock, Phillips, Maguranyanga, Gregory (39.16)
4x400
No. 3 Seete, Matiyenga, Gregory, Mokaleng (3:03.59)
High Jump
T-No. 28 Mason Buckmaster (2.10m)
Triple Jump
No. 3 Chengetayi (Du) Mapaya (16.78m) (55' 0.75")
Discus
No. 29 Camp (176'5") (53.78m)
No. 31 Van Grouw (175'7") (53.53m)
Women
400mH
No. 15 Kyla Robinson-Hubbard (59.08)
4x100
No. 18 Glenn, Longmire, Brown, Williams (45.40)
4x400
No. 14 Robinson-Hubbard, Williams, Martinez, Banks (3:39.24)
Long Jump
No. 4 Destiny Longmire (6.59m) (21'7.5")
Triple Jump
T-No. 23 Tosin Alao (12.80m) (42'0")
Pole Vault
T-No. 28 Tysen Townsend (13' 1.5") (4.0m)
The Frogs currently have 11 top-50 marks in the entire NCAA.
USTFCCCA Rankings
The Frogs jumped into the Top-25 at No. 21 in the third set of outdoor 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.
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.
Facility Record
Mapaya collected his second triple jump facility record in College Station this past Saturday. The wind finally died down enough for Mapaya to record a wind-legal mark on his final attempt, and he took full advantage of it. The Harare, Zimbabwe, native jumped 16.78m (55.75) to break the E.B. Cushing Stadium Record. Mapaya's mark ranks fourth in the world and third in the NCAA entering the weekend.
His first facility record occurred at Texas Tech's Sports Performance Center during indoor season where he leaped 16.85m (55-3.5), breaking the school record.
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.
Up and Over
Tysen Townsend broke former teammate Kendahl Shue's pole vault school record, clearing 13-1.5 (4.0m) en route to a third-place finish at the Baylor Invitational. Townsend now owns both the indoor and outdoor record.
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
