Florida State standout Andre Ewers runs wind-legal 9.98, LSU star Aleia Hobbs clocks 10.90 in fast 100-meter quarterfinals in Tampa

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Tennessee senior Shania Collins ran the fastest women’s 200-meter time under all conditions in collegiate history by clocking a wind-aided 21.97 seconds (+5.3 m/s) in a downpour during the first round Friday at the NCAA Division 1 East Regionals in Tampa, Fla.

Collins, who also ran a wind-legal 11.09 in the 100 to advance to the semifinals June 7 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., produced the fastest 200 time in the world this season under all conditions.

Former Florida standout Kyra Jefferson ran the wind-legal collegiate record of 22.02 last year to win the NCAA Division 1 title.

The top four first-round 200 times at the University of South Florida were all wind aided, with Georgia freshman Lynna Irby clocking 22.06, followed by Kentucky’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (22.21) and Tennessee’s Maia McCoy (22.43). Collegiate indoor 200 record holder Gabby Thomas of Harvard ran the fastest wind-legal time at 22.46 to qualify fifth overall.

Florida State junior Andre Ewers became the second collegiate male athlete this year to run under 10 seconds in the 100, clocking a wind-legal 9.98 to lead all qualifiers.

Ewers, who had already run a wind-aided 19.98 in the 200 to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title May 12, elevated to No. 2 in the world this year.

Only Americans Ronnie Baker (9.97) and Kendal Williams of Georgia (9.99) have produced wind-legal sub-10 efforts along with Ewers entering Friday’s race at the Prefontaine Classic, with collegiate record holder Christian Coleman scheduled to compete at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Ewers returned to clock a wind-legal 20.28 in the 200 to easily advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals. Tennessee’s Mustaqeem Williams led all qualifiers with a wind-aided 20.11.

LSU senior Aleia Hobbs ran a wind-legal 10.90 in the women’s 100 to equal the No. 2 time in the world this year, including the fastest by an American, with Thomas clocking a wind-aided 10.99. Hobbs still ranks No. 2 in collegiate history with a wind-legal 10.85 from last year.

Irby prevailed in the 400 in 50.44, with fellow freshman Sydney McLaughlin of Kentucky leading all qualifiers in the 400 hurdles in 55.50.

Connecticut junior Susan Aneno ran 2:02.71 to secure the top qualifying spot in the 800, with 12 female athletes clearing 13-8.50 (4.18m) to advance in the women’s pole vault.

Syracuse junior Paige Stoner led all qualifiers in the women’s 3,000 steeplechase in 9:48.73, with Michigan State senior Katelyn Daniels winning the women’s discus with a first-round throw of 183-1 (55.80m).

Tulane junior Emmanuel Rotich prevailed in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in 8:43.05, just ahead of Charlotte junior Mihret Coulter in 8:43.52.

Kentucky freshman Dwight St. Hillaire produced the top men’s 400 time at 44.55, followed by Auburn sophomores Nathon Allen (44.76) and Akeem Bloomfield (44.90).

Mississippi State’s Marco Arop edged Penn State’s Isaiah Harris by a 1:46.78 to 1:46.80 margin to post the top two qualifying times in the men’s 800.

North Carolina’s Kenny Selmon led all qualifiers in the men’s 400 hurdles in 48.91, with Ole Miss senior Brian Williams throwing the discus 197-11 (60.34m) to lead the 12 finalists. The cutoff to advance was 176-6 (53.81m).