McLeod Leaps Long Jump World Lead At Tiger Paw Invite

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Tennessee sophomore Carey McLeod recorded the No. 1 mark in the world for the 2019-20 indoor season in the men's long jump Friday afternoon, leaping 8.16m (26-9.25) to headline UT's performances on the first day of the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson University.

With his jump, McLeod broke Tennessee's 25-year-old school record in the long jump by 10 centimeters. The program standard was previously held by three-time All-American Darius Pemberton who jumped 8.06m (26-5.5) at the 1995 SEC Indoor Championships.

According the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-time indoor lists, McLeod now ranks as the No. 25 performer in collegiate track & field history and No. 11 on the all-time SEC indoor performance list. The Kingston, Jamaica, native's jump on Friday was the best by any collegian over the past two seasons.

The Vols now have two jumpers that hold current world No. 1 performances for the 2019-20 indoor season. Alongside McLeod, senior high jumper Darryl Sullivan sits atop the world leaderboard with his SEC-record clearance of 2.33m (7-7.75), recorded January 18 at the Virginia Tech Invitational.

Tennessee athletes totaled 15 indoor personal records, 11 top-5 finishes and seven marks that ranked inside the program's all-time top 10 lists on Friday. Read below for more highlights from the Tiger Paw Invitational.

MAXWELL TOPS OWN SCHOOL RECORD: With his lifetime-best throw of 19.89m (65-3.25) in the men's shot put, Tennessee senior captain Joseph Maxwell broke his own indoor school record to place second at the Tiger Paw Invite. The Evansville, Ontario, Canada, native ranks No. 2 in the SEC and No. 9 in the NCAA this season with his performance on Friday.

MAINES IMPROVES SEC LEAD: Lady Vol junior Latavia Maines earned her third consecutive first-place finish in the women's shot put with a personal-best throw of 17.49 meters (57-4.75) for the win on Friday. Her mark leads all SEC competitors this season by more than three feet and is the No. 6 performance on the 2020 NCAA indoor qualifying list, in addition to improving Maines' standing as the No. 4 performer in UT indoor history.

SUTTON SOARS TO NEW PR: Alonie Sutton recorded an indoor PR in the women's long jump for the second-straight meet, clearing 6.28m (20-7.25) for third place among collegiate athletes at Clemson. Her mark is the fourth-best in Lady Vol history, as the Smiths Station, Alabama, native ranks No. 13 in the NCAA and No. 6 in the SEC this season.

RHODES, LLOYD ENTER ALL-TIME TOP 10: A pair of Lady Vol underclasswomen had personal records that helped the duo make their respective debuts on the program's all-time indoor top-10 performance lists. In the 60m hurdles, sophomore Akira Rhodes clocked in at 8.43 in the qualifying rounds for the No. 10 mark in UT history. Redshirt-freshman sprinter Joella Lloyd tabbed a season-best 7.27 in the 60m dash semifinals at Clemson, tying the No. 8 performance by a Lady Vol.

MILER VICTORY: Sophomore distance specialist Katie Thronson took home the Tiger Paw Invite crown in the women's mile on Friday, running a personal-best 4:49.35 for the first victory of her indoor collegiate career. Her time sits No. 9 on the SEC performance list this season.

WILSON BREAKS 53 SECONDS: Lady Vol freshman Britton Wilson was UT's top finisher in the women's 400m dash, running a season-best time of 52.99 for 10th place at the meet. The Henrico, Virginia, native became Tennessee's fifth woman ever to run faster than 53 seconds indoors, tying current director of track & field operations and Lady Vol alumna Ellen (Wortham) Hurst for the No. 4 time in school history.

DMR GRABS SILVER WITH SB: Tennessee earned a runner-up finish in the men's distance medley relay with the squad of Riley Buchholz, Alex Kay, Adam Johnston and Conner Hawkins combining for a time of 9:58.21. Hawkins clocked an impressive 1600m anchor split of 4:07.37 for the Big Orange to help the group record UT's fastest mark in the event this season.

#PRTRACKER: Tennessee athletes combined to break or tie 15 indoor personal records Friday at the Tiger Paw Invitational:

Joella Lloyd - Women's 60m Dash - 7.33 (qualifying)
Maia McCoy - Women's 60m Dash - 7.21 (semifinal)
Joella Lloyd - Women's 60m Dash - 7.27 (semifinal)
Maia McCoy - Women's 60m Dash - 7.20 (final)
Katie Thronson - Women's Mile - 4:49.35
Olivia Janke - Women's Mile - 4:52.30
Akira Rhodes - Women's 60m Hurdles - 8.43
Alonie Sutton - Women's Long Jump - 6.28m (20-7.25)
Kiara Rhodes - Women's Long Jump - 5.90m (19-4.25)
Au'Yana Carson - Women's Long Jump - 5.48m (17-11.75)
Latavia Maines - Women's Shot Put - 17.49m (57-4.75)
Rasheeme Griffith - Men's 400m Dash - 48.07
Adam Johnston - Men's Mile - 4:15.18
Carey McLeod - Men's Long Jump - 8.16m (26-9.25)
Joseph Maxwell - Men's Shot Put - 19.89m (65-3.25)

UP NEXT: Tennessee will wrap up the regular season Saturday at the Tiger Paw Invitational, beginning at 11 a.m. with the women's high jump, men's triple jump and men's pole vault. In two weeks, the Vols will begin postseason competition at the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Riley Buchholz

Au'Yana Carson

Rasheeme Griffith

Conner Hawkins

Olivia Janke

Adam Johnston

Alex Kay

Joella Lloyd

Latavia Maines

Joseph Maxwell

Maia McCoy

Carey McLeod

Akira Rhodes

Kiara Rhodes

Darryl Sullivan

Alonie Sutton

Katie Thronson

Britton Wilson

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