Both athletes benefit from altitude to produce top indoor marks in the world, with Texas standout Alfred achieving the fastest 60-meter performance by any collegiate female athlete in January

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Mikiah Brisco ran the fastest time of her collegiate career at the Albuquerque Convention Center, so it was only fitting the former LSU standout achieved her top mark as a young professional Saturday in the same arena at the Dr. Martin Luther King Invitational.

And Texas sophomore Julien Alfred demonstrated that she might be on the path to similar success as Brisco when she returns to New Mexico in March for the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships.

Brisco ran a world-leading 7.08 seconds for her best effort since 2018 and Alfred took second in 7.10, the fastest time by a collegiate sprinter in January and elevating her to the No. 7 all-time indoor performer in NCAA history.

Alfred’s performance made it four of the top 10 indoor marks in Division 1 history achieved at altitude at the Albuquerque Convention Center, including the 7.07 collegiate record run by former Oregon standout Hannah Cunliffe in 2017, which was equaled the following year by LSU’s Aleia Hobbs.

Alfred, who competes internationally for Saint Lucia, also prevailed Friday in the 200 in 23.50.

The top two times in the world were also produced in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, with reigning U.S. indoor champion and 2018 World indoor gold medalist Keni Harrison clocking 7.81 and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan – seven in Birmingham, England at the World Indoor Championships – placing second in 7.87.

After running a world-leading 20.53 in the men’s 200 meters Friday, Texas junior Micaiah Harris returned to place second in the 60-meter dash, clocking 6.69 to finish runner-up to USC’s Brendon Stewart (6.59).

In the men’s 400, USC’s Isaiah Jewett edged Texas’ Jonathan Jones by a 46.184 to 46.188 margin.

Texas’ Kennedy Simon clocked 52.70 in the women’s 400 to hold off USC’s Bailey Lear in 52.75.

HOKA ONE ONE New York/New Jersey Track Club standout Ce’Aira Brown won the women’s 800 in 2:04.62, with Canadian professional Anicka Newell prevailing in the women’s pole vault by clearing 14-5.25 (4.40m) to triumph against LSU junior Lisa Gunnarsson, who cleared 14-3.25 (4.35m).