Hurdle Squad Impresses With Four NCAA Top 15 Marks At Tom Jones Memorial

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tennessee's 400-meter hurdlers rose to the occasion Friday evening as the UT track & field program opened competition at the Tom Jones Memorial inside Florida's James G. Pressly Stadium. In one of the nation's most talent-laden meets of the outdoor season, all four UT student-athletes tabbed season-best performances in the 400-meter hurdles competition to rank themselves among the NCAA's best in 2023.

Lady Vol senior Kyla Robinson-Hubbard led off with a lifetime-best mark of 56.81 seconds, setting a PR for the third consecutive weekend and rising to No. 5 on Tennessee's all-time list. The Calabasas, California, native's performance ranks No. 13 in the NCAA and seventh in the SEC this season.

On the men's side, the Volunteer trio went 1-2-3 in Friday's second heat of the 400-meter hurdles with junior Jakwan Hale leading the way in 49.41 seconds. His time ranks No. 10 on the 2023 world list, fourth in the NCAA, second in the SEC and third all-time for the Big Orange.

Redshirt junior Rasheeme Griffith was right behind Hale and broke the 50-second barrier for the first time in his career with a 49.60 clocking, which currently sits 12th in the world, fifth in the NCAA and third in the SEC this year. The Bridgetown, Barbados, product moved up one spot to No. 4 on UT's all-time list on Friday.

Newcomer Clement Ducos turned in a season-best performance as well, crossing the line in 50.21 for the No. 9 mark in the NCAA and No. 5 time in the SEC in 2023. The freshman from Bordeaux, France, now ranks No. 6 in Tennessee history.

Returning to her home state, Lady Vol speedster senior Jacious Sears also had a strong performance in the 200-meter dash, logging a wind-aided (+3.6 m/s) season-best time of 22.56 to place sixth overall at the meet. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native sits No. 6 in the nation and No. 2 in the SEC for marks recorded below a wind reading of a 4.0 m/s tailwind.

Friday wrapped up with the men's long jump college division, and UT redshirt freshman Leonard Mustari earned the win with a leap of 7.67 meters (25-2) in the first round. Wind a tailwind of +1.5 m/s, his mark established a new personal-best and the farthest legal jump by a Volunteer this season.

Full results from Friday at the Tom Jones Memorial can be accessed via Half-Mile Timing, Inc.

UP NEXT: The Tom Jones Memorial closes out Saturday with Tennessee participating in 13 events, beginning at 11 a.m. ET with the women's pole vault and concluding at 6 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.

Hurdle Squad Impresses With Four NCAA Top 15 Marks At Tom Jones Memorial

Players Mentioned

Clement Ducos

Rasheeme Griffith

Ja'Kwan Hale

Leonard Mustari

Kyla Robinson-Hubbard

Jacious Sears

University of Tennessee Athletics