Austin, Texas, USA - The sun came out, the winds died down, and Texas Relays athletes responded with good performances, including four early outdoor season world leads in individual events, to wit: Louisiana State University students Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Richard Thompson, both from Trinidad and Tobago, won the featured 100 metres races in PBs – Thompson in 10.00 secs and Baptiste in 11.06;  Andra Manson cleared 2.33m to win the High Jump; and Leonel Manzano won the Mile in 3:56.98. There were also “world leaders” in most of the relays, because this is the first major outdoor relays meet of the year.

Richard Thompson, who had plenty of bona fides coming in with a windy 9.95 and wind-legal 10.09 last year and an indoor NCAA 60m title three weeks ago, established a clear lead by 40m in the men’s 100m and had no trouble holding off Rae Edwards, who was second in 10.13. Thompson’s Louisiana teammate, Trindon Holliday, won the University 100m, edging Gerald Phiri (GBR), 10.20 to 10.22.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste had a narrower margin in the women’s 100m, holding off Alexandria Anderson (11.10) and Jamaican Simone Facey (11.11), both also PBs. The University 100m was won handily by Porscha Lucas in 11.20.

Andra Manson, whose confidence got an enormous boost from an indoor season which saw him win the USATF indoor championship and then place third in the World Indoor Championships in Valencia, sailed over 2.20m, 2.25 and 2.30 without a miss, cleared 2.33 on his third try, and then had one very near clearance at 2.36. Second was Scott Sellers, who cleared 2.30.