TCU's Newton takes over collegiate lead in triple jump

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It was a historic day Saturday for the Texas Tech men's track and field program, which captured its first Big 12 Indoor title at Iowa State's Lied Recreation Athletic Center by a 143-129 margin over Texas. The Longhorns edged Kansas 117-112 to secure the women's team championship.

It was also a significant meet for Texas Tech senior Trey Culver, who equaled the championship meet record in the men's high jump with a clearance of 7 feet, 7 inches (2.31m). Culver matched the 2013 finals and facility records set by former Kansas State star Erik Kynard, who recently captured his fifth consecutive USATF Indoor title Feb. 17 in New Mexico.

Culver prevailed against two of the nation's most talented freshmen in Oklahoma's Vernon Turner and Kansas State's Tejaswin Shankar, who both cleared 7-5.75 (2.28m).

They will enter the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships as the top three high jumpers in the country. Culver and Turner have both cleared 7-7.75 (2.33m) and Shankar 7-5.75.

Texas Christian senior Scotty Newton took over the collegiate lead in the men's triple jump with a final-round effort of 54-6.75 (16.63m), setting a championship meet record to surpass the mark of 54-1.50 (16.49m) set last year by Oklahoma's Hayden McClain.

Despite prevailing by a 2:17.58 to 2:18.02 margin in the women's 800, the comeback attempt in the women's pentathlon by Texas Tech junior Kaylee Hinton came up just short against Texas junior Ashtin Zamzow, who held on for a 4,076 to 4,075 victory.