T’Mars McCallum Grabs 100-Meter World Lead At USC Outdoor Open

Saturday, April 20

Columbia, S.C.

University of Tennessee

USC Outdoor Open

T’Mars McCallum Grabs 100-Meter World Lead At USC Outdoor Open

April 20, 2024 | Track & Field

Results

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Tennessee sophomore sprinter T'Mars McCallum turned heads on Saturday at the USC Outdoor Open, clocking a lifetime-best 9.94 in the 100-meter dash with a 2.0 m/s tailwind. His mark established the World Lead for 2024 as the fastest wind-legal mark by any athlete on the planet this season.

McCallum becomes the second Vol in program history to dip under 10 seconds in the 100-meter dash with a legal wind. The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native ranks second on Tennessee's all-time charts behind Christian Coleman's collegiate record of 9.82 set during the VFL's Bowerman winning campaign in 2017.

This marks the second 100-meter world lead by a Tennessee sprinter in as many weeks, as Lady Vol senior Jacious Sears clocked a time of 10.77 at the Tom Jones Memorial that currently sits at the peak of the 2024 World Athletics Toplist. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native was only 0.02 seconds off the collegiate record set by reigning World Champion Sha'Carri Richardson in 2019.

The 19-year-old McCallum owns the fastest wind legal time in the world this season and ranks No. 1 in the NCAA over USF's Saminu Abdul-Rasheed who held the previous collegiate lead with a mark of 9.95 (+3.6). Additionally, McCallum's time equaled the No. 21 performer in collegiate history, and he became just the sixth sophomore in collegiate history to run 9.95 or faster with a legal wind.

The spectacular 100-meter performance was one of four victories for the Tennessee men's sprint squad on Saturday at the USC Outdoor Open.

McCallum and three of his teammates led off the meet with a victory in the men's 4x100-meter relay, as the Volunteer quartet of Javonte' Harding, Davonte Howell, McCallum and Emmanuel Bynum passed the baton around the oval in a season-best 39.21 seconds. Their time ranks UT as the ninth-fastest school in the NCAA this season.

Three hours later, Bynum suited up for the 400-meter dash and picked up a victory with his time of 46.06 to equal the No. 25 mark in the country this season. Tennessee then went 1-2 in the men's 400-meter hurdles with a pair of sub-50 clockings from Rasheeme Griffith (49.58) and Ja'Kwan Hale (49.98). Both marks for the Volunteer hurdle duo rank top 10 on the 2024 NCAA Division I list.

On the women's side, junior hurdler Layla Anderson stood out with a lifetime-best mark of 13.23 to take third place in the 100-meter hurdles final. Her time bumped the Portsmouth, Virginia, native from No. 9 to No. 7 on UT's all-time list in the event.

Full results from the USC Outdoor Open can be accessed via AdkinsTrak Timing Associates.

UP NEXT: Tennessee track & field will wrap up the regular outdoor season with a pair of meets next weekend, sending a crop of distance runners to Nashville for the Outdoor Music City Challenge (April 26-27) and a group of sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and throwers to Tucson, Arizona, for the Desert Heat Classic (April 27).