Track & Field

Wes Kittley and the men’s track and field team won their second national title in Boston over the weekend, scoring 50.5 points to edge Arkansas who had 41:

The Tech men started off the day scoring 3.5 points as Omamuyovwi Erhire tied for fifth in the high jump as he cleared 2.18m (7-1 ¾). About two hours later, Tech scored 19 points in the 60m final, highlighted by Terrence Jones defending his title with a run of 6.56. Don’Dre Swint finished in third at 6.60 as Caleb Dean finished sixth with a time of 6.67.

About 30 minutes later, Dean, after placing second last year in the 60m hurdles, this time took the title in a time of 7.56. Prior to that, Shaemar Uter gave Tech crucial points in the 400m final as he finished sixth with a time of 45.94.

From there, Jones took care of business in the 200m final clocking at 20.23 to complete the double. Going into the 4×400 finale, Tech held a 5.5-point advantage over the slim favorite entering the week, Arkansas. Running in the second heat, Dean, Carl Hicks, Josh Bour and Uter combined for a time of 3:03.37 – the fourth fastest overall. The title was officially clinched when Arkansas turned in a time of 3:04.77, finishing eighth overall.

The entire idea of winning a national title in track means you have to have some guys who will absolutely cook at their events or have so many athletes competing that you don’t have to do well. You really can’t afford to do the latter because it’s incredibly difficult to qualify for nationals on an individual basis. And the whole idea of finding the guys who can win events when there are hundreds of fast athletes out there make this an incredibly difficult proposition. Congrats to Kittley, Calvin Robinson, Jon Murray and the entire staff as well as to all of the athletes that contributed to this incredible honor!

Baseball & Softball

The series thread has been updated with the series loss to Texas. Texas Tech was up late yesterday, but Trendan Parish gave up the winning runs. The pitching has been rough and lots of grumbling about the effectiveness over the years and yes, it has been a problem. Tim Tadlock is loyal if anything, but it may be time. There was also a situation early where a Texas baserunner ran into Gavin Kash who was moving out of the 1st baseline, but the Texas player seemed intent on taking on Kash, a former Longhorn. The Texas player was not tossed. I am sure it was all coincidental. Tadlock said after the game that he didn’t think it was intentional.

Softball took the series against BYU in Provo Thursday through Saturday and they move to 19-4 on the season.

Texas Tech Football

Mike Farrell Sports’ Rock Westfall writes about how Joey McGuire is the perfect coach for Teas Tech and this is a fine article, but it is an article that is really for a person who doesn’t follow Texas Tech that closely.

McGuire has shown immediate recruiting prowess. In his 2022 transition class, McGuire’s haul ranked 43rd in the nation and 8th in the Big 12. But in 2023, McGuire improved that standing with a class that ranked 28th in the nation and 4th in the Big 12. And then, in 2024, McGuire’s contacts and the credibility of two bowl campaigns improved Texas Tech to rankings of 23rd in the country and 1st in the Big 12.

Dallas Morning News’ Justin Apodaca writes about major storylines heading int o the season and this is about if the offensive line can figure it out before the season:

At tackle, the Red Raiders went to the portal to replenish the loss of Monroe Mills, who transferred to Louisville and landed on Middle Tennessee State transfer Sterling Porcher and Saddleback CC transfer Maurice Rodriques.

Porcher seems to be the leader in the clubhouse to earn the starting job at left tackle, but will be pushed by Rodriques, who chose the Red Raiders over offers from Georgia, USC and UCLA.

At right tackle, the Red Raiders will have a competition between Ty Buchanan, Dalton Merryman and Caleb Rodkey, three returners who were close to cracking the starting five at various points in 2023. Buchanan has started at left tackle and right guard during his two-year tenure in Lubbock after transferring from USC.