Texas A&M Track & Field Comrades Abadie, Davidson Secure Places in NCAA Championships
Davidson and Abadie Shatter Records in the NCAA West First Round
FAYETTEVILLE – A marvelous display of athleticism and unswerving determination was witnessed in John McDonnell Field as Texas A&M track & field’s stars Heather Abadie and Lianna Davidson punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships. They participated in the pole vault and javelin competitions, respectively, during the second day of the NCAA West First Round on Thursday.
Securing the first ticket to nationals of the day, Davidson notched a third place in the women’s javelin. The junior phenom delivered a remarkable throw of 56.89m/186-7 on her first attempt, setting a mark that remained unbeaten in her subsequent attempts.
Hot on Davidson’s trail was Heather Abadie, who demonstrated her prowess in the pole vault event. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Abadie surmounted four heights in six attempts, achieving a decisive clearance of 4.30m/14-1.25. This win secured her place in the first outdoor national meet of her promising career.
Fellow Aggie Athletes Advance to Saturday’s Quarterfinals
Thursday’s qualifiers extend beyond Abadie and Davidson. Jaiya Covington, a sophomore, brought her A-game to the 100m hurdles event. She clocked her second-fastest time of the season, finishing second in her heat and ninth overall at 12.96 seconds.
Two other Texas A&M athletes, Camryn Dickson and Semira Killebrew showed their mettle in the 100m sprint. The pair ensured their progression to the next round by securing the third position in their heats. Dickson achieved a career-best time of 22.66 seconds in the 200m race, marking her the seventh fastest in Texas A&M’s history.
In the 400m races, Jermaisha Arnold took the lead among the A&M competitors, securing the second position in her heat and overall ninth place in 51.73 seconds. Jaydan Wood replicated her season’s second-best, finishing at 52.54 seconds to claim a position in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
Last but not least, Nissi Kabongo capped off the Aggie’s day with another invitation to Saturday’s showdown, securing second place in her heat and eighth overall in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Looking Forward to the Third Day of the NCAA West First Round
The Aggies are set to return to John McDonnell Field tomorrow, with high hopes for the remainder of their athletes to secure their tickets to the National Championships. You can keep up with the Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country team by following @aggietfxc on social media.
