NCAA Division 2 Olympian Makes Successful Homecoming To Texas With Record-Breaking Pole Vault Clearance; Team USA Women's 4x100 Relay Runs 41.74

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

DyeStat file photo (Brynn King), and Bob Daemmrich

Brynn King, a Division 2 national champion and 2024 Olympian from Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.), broke the collegiate record in the women's outdoor pole vault on Saturday at the 97th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. 

King cleared 4.75 meters (15-7) to break Olivia Gruver's 2019 record of 4.73m (15-6.25). 

King, 24, grew up in The Woodlands, Texas. She placed fifth in the high school pole vault in high school at the Texas Relays for Concordia Lutheran High in 2019.

The three-time NCAA D2 champon, coached by Jenn Suhr, may be in a season-long competition to hold onto the record. 

Washington twins Amanda and Hana Moll, who finished 1-2 at the NCAA D1 Indoor Championships, have both cleared higher bars indoors this year. 

A second collegiate record came in the women's 4x800 relay where Arkansas ran a time of 8:16.12 with a lineup of Anna Podojil, Ainsley Erzen, Sanu Jallow and Analisse Batista.

In the men's discus, Oklahoma's Ralford Mullings got off a sixth-round moon shot that traveled 69.13m. That was a meet record and moved him to No. 2 on the all-time collegiate performance list behind Cal's Mykolas Alekna. Mullings' throw is the fourth-longest in NCAA history. 

There were more Olympic sightings on the Mike A. Myers track in Austin on Saturday. 

Masai Russell, gold medalist in the 100 hurdles at the Paris Games, ran in the flat women's 100 meters and placed second behind Anavia Battle in 11.16w. (+3.9).

Fred Kerley anchored a men's team in the 4x100 relay, bringing the stick across the finish line in 38.43 seconds. 

Olympic 200 meters champion Gabby Thomas ran second leg on a 4x100 relay team that ran a facility record time of 41.74 seconds. That's .04 seconds faster than the American team that won gold in Paris last summer. Russell ran on the second-place team that clocked 43.26.

Texas alum Julien Alfred, Olympic champion in the women's 100 meters, took a leg on the Team International squad that ran a meet and facility record 3:25.20. Alfred ran with fellow Olympians Rhasidat Adeleke, Dina Asher-Smith and Ackelia Smith. 

Arkansas won the university section of the women's 4x400 relay in an even faster 3:25.03 with Kaylyn Brown running on the anchor. 

Texas Tech won he men's university 4x400 relay in a time of 3:04.52.

Culver City TX won the boys Div 2 4x400 relay in a US#1 time of 3:10.94.

The girls from Long Beach (Wilson) CA also ran a US#1 time in the 4x400 when they ran 3:39.60. 

Sensational freshman Jasir Fontenot of San Diego CA ran a wind-aided time of 13.47 to win the 110-meter hurdles (+4.0 m/s). Older sister Anisa Bowen-Fontenot won her 100-meter hurdles final in 12.99w (+3.4). That's ninth-fastest by a prep all-conditions.

Bradley Jelmert of Arkansas State edged Washington's Scott Toney to win the men's pole vault after both cleared 5.55m (18-2.50). Jelmert cleared 5.45 on his first try and Toney got it on his third.

Brandon Green Jr from Oklahoma jumped a wind-aided 16.92m (55-6.25) to win the men's triple jump. 

NCAA Indoor champion Agur Dwol of Oklahoma won the women's triple jump with a mark of 14.01m (45-11.75). 

Elijah Hall-Thompson won the invitational men's 200 meters in 19.98 but it came with a 3.0 m/s tailwind. 

In the 100 meters, Marcellus Moore breached the 10-second barrier with 9.97 (+3.6 wind).

Jenna Prandini ran a fast time of 22.16 to win the women's invitational 200 meters, but it was aided by a 3.2 m/s wind.

TCU's Indya Mayberry, the NCAA Indoor 60 meters champion, ran a stunning time of 10.91 in the women's 100 meters, but the wind reading was 3.9 m/s. Ohio State's Leah Bertrand was second in 10.94 and Tarleton State's Victoria Cameron was third in 11.09.

Tia Jones won the women's 100 hurdles with a wind-aided time of 12.57 seconds. 

Texas' Akala Garrett won the college section of the event in 12.75w. 

In the boys shot put, Adam Carter of Katy TX threw 68-0.50 for a big personal best and US#1.