University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Cayce Smith/Tennessee Athletics
Taylor Earns Three All-America Honors Thursday At NCAA Championships
June 09, 2023 | Track & Field
AUSTIN, Texas — Lady Vol graduate student Charisma Taylor added three All-America certificates to her long list of accolades Thursday night at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including first team honors in the long jump after a sixth-place finish when she leaped 6.41 meters (21-0.5) in the sixth round.
The versatile Bahamian became Tennessee's first All-American in the outdoor long jump since Olympic champion and UT Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Tianna Madison won the NCAA title in 2005. Also picking up second team certificates in the 100-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay, Taylor has collected 11 All-America honors over the course of her collegiate career.
Lady Vol senior Jacious Sears competed as expected in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash semifinals, earning automatic qualifiers in both events on Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native won her heat of the 100-meter in 11.06 seconds before turning in a time of 22.49 in the 200 to take second in her heat and advance to Saturday's final.
The reigning SEC Commissioner's Trophy winner will vie for national titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes on Saturday at 9:52 p.m. and 10:37 p.m. ET, respectively. Sears is the second Lady Vol in as many years to qualify for NCAA finals in both short sprints, joining teammate Joella Lloyd who accomplished the feat last June in Eugene, Oregon.
Competing in her second of four events at the 2023 NCAA Championships, Taylor narrowly missed the 100-meter hurdles final after posting a mark of 12.94 seconds in the national semifinal. The Nassau, Bahamas, native placed 10th in the country, just .03 seconds slower than the third and final timed qualifier Paula Salmon (North Carolina A&T).
Tennessee's 4x100-meter relay quartet kicked off the running events Thursday with a season-best time, passing the baton around the oval in 43.25 seconds to place 10th overall. Sears, Jonah Ross, Taylor and Nicole Sreenan secured Second Team All-America certificates for their efforts, turning in the second-fastest time in Tennessee history that was .07 seconds off the school record set by Tianna Madison, Courtney Champion, Toyin Olupona and Cleo Tyson at the 2005 outdoor national meet.
Unfortunate circumstances prevented Tennessee from earning All-America status in the 4x400-meter relay, as the team of Kyla Robinson-Hubbard, Ross, Uchechi Nwogwugwu and Sreenan placed 17th with a time of 3:33.52. On the Lady Vols' first handoff, a University of Texas runner impeded the exchange between Robinson-Hubbard and Ross, causing a delay of about two seconds.
The Longhorns were disqualified after review, and the Lady Vols were left .09 seconds from the top-16 cutoff for second team All-America recognition.
Junior thrower Chandler Hayden opened Thursday's competition making her NCAA Outdoor Championship debut in the hammer throw. The Pittsfield, Illinois, native spun a toss of 61.47 meters (201-8) to place 19th overall for the Lady Vols.
UP NEXT: The 10th-ranked Tennessee men's squad wraps up the national meet on Friday, competing in six event finals. The action starts at 9:10 p.m. ET with Midland, Texas, native Garison Breeding making his NCAA Championship debut in the triple jump and concludes with distance duo Yaseen Abdalla and Dylan Jacobs running the 5k at approximately 10:55 p.m.
The versatile Bahamian became Tennessee's first All-American in the outdoor long jump since Olympic champion and UT Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Tianna Madison won the NCAA title in 2005. Also picking up second team certificates in the 100-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay, Taylor has collected 11 All-America honors over the course of her collegiate career.
Lady Vol senior Jacious Sears competed as expected in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash semifinals, earning automatic qualifiers in both events on Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native won her heat of the 100-meter in 11.06 seconds before turning in a time of 22.49 in the 200 to take second in her heat and advance to Saturday's final.
The reigning SEC Commissioner's Trophy winner will vie for national titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes on Saturday at 9:52 p.m. and 10:37 p.m. ET, respectively. Sears is the second Lady Vol in as many years to qualify for NCAA finals in both short sprints, joining teammate Joella Lloyd who accomplished the feat last June in Eugene, Oregon.
Competing in her second of four events at the 2023 NCAA Championships, Taylor narrowly missed the 100-meter hurdles final after posting a mark of 12.94 seconds in the national semifinal. The Nassau, Bahamas, native placed 10th in the country, just .03 seconds slower than the third and final timed qualifier Paula Salmon (North Carolina A&T).
Tennessee's 4x100-meter relay quartet kicked off the running events Thursday with a season-best time, passing the baton around the oval in 43.25 seconds to place 10th overall. Sears, Jonah Ross, Taylor and Nicole Sreenan secured Second Team All-America certificates for their efforts, turning in the second-fastest time in Tennessee history that was .07 seconds off the school record set by Tianna Madison, Courtney Champion, Toyin Olupona and Cleo Tyson at the 2005 outdoor national meet.
Unfortunate circumstances prevented Tennessee from earning All-America status in the 4x400-meter relay, as the team of Kyla Robinson-Hubbard, Ross, Uchechi Nwogwugwu and Sreenan placed 17th with a time of 3:33.52. On the Lady Vols' first handoff, a University of Texas runner impeded the exchange between Robinson-Hubbard and Ross, causing a delay of about two seconds.
The Longhorns were disqualified after review, and the Lady Vols were left .09 seconds from the top-16 cutoff for second team All-America recognition.
Junior thrower Chandler Hayden opened Thursday's competition making her NCAA Outdoor Championship debut in the hammer throw. The Pittsfield, Illinois, native spun a toss of 61.47 meters (201-8) to place 19th overall for the Lady Vols.
UP NEXT: The 10th-ranked Tennessee men's squad wraps up the national meet on Friday, competing in six event finals. The action starts at 9:10 p.m. ET with Midland, Texas, native Garison Breeding making his NCAA Championship debut in the triple jump and concludes with distance duo Yaseen Abdalla and Dylan Jacobs running the 5k at approximately 10:55 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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XC/Distance
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Hurdles/Sprints
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Sprints
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