FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, February 13–14 — Did you have Khaleb McRae taking down the men’s 400 World Record this weekend on your bingo card? Chances are, you did not. But the 25-year-old blasted a 44.52 at the Tyson Invitational — and inspired another question: When is a performance a World Record, but only ties a slightly faster American Record?
The mark, assuming it’s ratified by World Athletics, would surpass the official WR 44.57 clocked by Kerron Clement in 2005. Michael Norman’s 44.52 at the ’18 NCAA and Canadian Christopher Morales Williams’ 44.49 at the ’24 SEC Indoor (also at the Tyson Track Center) were not ratified due to lack of proper drug testing protocol and improper starting blocks, respectively. McRae did match Norman’s AR, which was ratified by USATF.
“McRae’s time will likely pass ratification by World Athletics to secure the World Record status since the correct starting blocks were utilized, drug testing was onsite and the required paperwork was filled out,” Arkansas T&F SID Shawn Price clarified.
“I had a good opener (45.38 at the New Balance GP), and then last week in practice we [ran] a 420, and I ran 44.72, and I’m like, ‘Coach, I think I’m ready to go run something fast,’” said Tokyo WC 4×4 silver medalist McRae. “So we came here with the expectation of I can take down a World Record.”
McRae went out in 21.24, pushed through 300 by runner-up William Jones (45.63), and finished in 23.29, surpassing a stated goal of 23.4. He even noticed the “wires on the [starting] block” before he started, “so that was good.” Tokyo 400 silver medalist Jereem Richards and 44.15 runner Chris Robinson had a shot in the second section to surpass McRae, but could not take advantage.
The sprints also featured world leaders by Hog alum Jordan Anthony and Julien Alfred in the men’s and women’s 60s, at 6.43 (=No. 9 all time) and 6.99 (first sub-7 of ’26). Noah Lyles was also on the scene, winning a section of the 200 in 20.56. Though Lyles is a 5-time No. 1 World Ranker in the event, the time was an indoor PR, bettering at long last the 20.63 he ran in ’16, a High School Record at the time.
On the field, Tokyo 110H champ Cordell Tinch made his return to the long jump after 2 years away a good one. After leaping just 25-4½ (7.73) and 24-11¾ (7.61) on his first two attempts, Tinch hit 26-7¼ (8.11) and then a satisfying (and winning) PR 27-2½ (8.29) on his fourth — moving him to =No. 3 on the yearly world list.
Tinch prevailed over a field with quality credentials. The 26-10½ (8.19) PR by 21-year-old runner-up Greg Foster comes in the Princeton senior’s first campaign past 8.00m without wind aid. However, 3rd-placer Kelsey Daniel, a Texas senior, won the NCAA Indoor LJ last year. Tajay Gayle (4th at 26-8¼ [8.13]) won World Champs gold in ’19. Luvo Manyonga (6th at 26-7¼ [8.11]) won WC gold in ’17 and Olympic silver in ’16 — and here at 34 jumped his longest since ’18 in a career checkered by two past bans triggered by recreational drug abuse and personal troubles. Fifth-placer Steffin McCarter (26-7¼) scored a LJ 5th at the ’22 Worlds, and 6th-placer Jordan Turner of LSU (26-7¼) was 3rd at the ’23 NCAA.
Hurdles star Tinch’s foray as a jumper, indeed, may have legs.
TYSON INVITATIONAL MEN’S RESULTS
60: 1. Jordan Anthony (adidas) 6.43 (=9, x W; =6, x A); 2. *Traunard Folson (Tn) 6.49 (=9, x AmC);
3. *Davonte Howell’ (Tn-Cay) 6.52; 4. Trayvon Bromell (NBal) 6.53; 5. Ronnie Baker (adidas) 6.57.
200: 1. Noah Lyles (adidas) 20.56.
400: 1. Khaleb McRae (adidas) 44.52 =AR (=AR 44.52 Michael Norman [USC] ‘18; =2, =2 W; superior to ratified WR 44.57).
800: 1. Tyrice Taylor’ (Ar-Jam) 1:46.11; 2. Rivaldo Marshall’ (Ar-Jam) 1:46.30; 3. *Miguel Pantojas’ (Fl-PR) 1:46.49; 4. Niko Schultz’ (PennSt-PR) 1:46.53.
Mile: 1. ***Nelson Setek’ (Tn-Ken) 3:55.90.
3000: 1. Ryan Schoppe (LaT) 7:38.19; 2. Fouad Messaoudi’ (Mor-Mor) 7:40.20; 3. Brian Masai’ (Ar-Ken) 7:43.96.
60H: 1. Johnny Brackins (On) 7.47; 2. Jerome Campbell’ (Ar-Jam) 7.48.
4 x 400: I–1. Florida 3:02.15 (Horton-Mims 45.95); 2. Tennessee 3:02.46 (Barton 45.34); 3. Arkansas 3:03.40 (Wright 44.87). II–1. LSU 3:03.05 ( Glasgow 45.46); 2. Princeton 3:03.56 (45.56).
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Kyren Washington (Ok) 7-3¼ (2.22); 2. Kason O’Riley (adidas) 7-3¼.
PV: 1. *Cody Johnston (Il) 18-8¼ (5.70); 2. tie, *Kevin O’Sullivan (Rut) & *Ismaila Sawaneh’ (Tn-Fra) 18-6½ (5.65); 4. Anthony Meacham (Ks) 18-2½ (5.55); 5. *Ashton Barkdull (Ks) 18-2½; 6. Blake Sifferlin (Tn) 18-2½.
LJ: 1. Cordell Tinch (Nike) 27-2½ (8.29) (=AL);
2. Greg Foster (Prin) 26-10½ (8.19); 3. Kelsey Daniel’ (Tx-Tri) 26-8½ (8.14); 4. Tajay Gayle’ (Jam) 26-8¼ (8.13); 5. Steffin McCarter (unat) 26-7¼ (8.11); 6. Luvo Manyonga’ (SA) 26-7¼ (8.11); 7. Jordan Turner’ (LSU-Jam) 26-7¼.
TJ: 1. Russell Robinson (unat) 55-8½ (16.98); 2. James Carter (unat) 54-2½ (16.52); 3. Kelsey Daniel’ (Tx-Tri) 54-1¾ (16.50); 4. *Zavien Wolfe (Il) 54-0 (16.46);
SP: 1. Tarik O’Hagan (Ms) 69-3½ (21.12); 2. *Michael Pinones (Tx) 64-2½ (19.57); 3. Dylan Lambrecht (PennSt) 64-¼ (19.51).
Wt: 1. *Ryan Johnson (Ia) 80-7¾ (24.58); 2. Gary Moore (KsSt) 77-2¾ (23.54); 3. Keyandre Davis (Va) 75-7¼ (23.04); 4. Jeremiah Nubbe’ (Va-Can) 75-¾ (22.88.
TYSON WOMEN’S RESULTS
Inv 60: 1. Julien Alfred’ (StL) 6.99 (WL);
2. Jacious Sears (Nike) 7.03; 3. Brianna Lyston’ (Jam) 7.07.
200: 1. **Esther Joseph’ (Tn-Ngr) 22.94.
300: II–1. Stacey Ann Williams’ (Jam) 35.92 (10, x W);
2. Rhasidat Adeleke’ (Ire) 36.30; 3. Nicole Yeargin’ (GB) 36.79.
400: I–1. Britton Wilson (adidas) 50.66; 2. Nickisha Pryce’ (Jam) 51.29; 3. Sanaria Butler (Ar) 51.41.
800: II–1. *Sanu Jallow-Lockhart’ (Ar-Gam) 1:59.76 (5, 6 C);
2. Shafiqua Maloney’ (StV) 1:59.82; 3. Honor Finley (unat) 2:01.62.
Mile: 1. *Zoie Dundon (Mn) 4:31.92.
3000: 1. **Isabelle Schmidt (Mn) 9:07.91.
60H: 1. Myreanna Bebe’ (Tn-Hai) 7.98; 2. Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck’ (UCLA-Bel) 8.00; 3. Charisma Taylor’ (Bah) 8.05;
4. Gabbi Cunningham (Nike) 8.09; 5. Danae Dyer (HurdM) 8.10.
4 x 400: I–1. Arkansas 3:25.82 (WL, CL) (Prince 52.56, Batista 50.67, Jallow-Lockhart’ 50.19, Butler 52.40);
2. Tennessee 3:29.47.
II–1. Florida 3:28.37; 2. Texas 3:28.97; 3. UCF 3:29.21; 4. Iowa 3:29.69.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Alyssa Jones (Stan) 6-2¼ (1.89); 2. Rose Yeboah’ (Il-Gha) 6-1¼ (1.86).
PV : 1. **Anna Willis (SD) 15-1 (4.60); 2. Marleen Mulla’ (SD-Est) 15-1; 3. Madi Wulfekotter (Pacer) 14-5¼ (4.40);
4. **Skye Tolbert (Tn) 14-5¼.
LJ: 1. Jasmine Moore (Puma) 22-6¼ (6.86) (AL);
2. *Sophia Beckmon (Il) 22-4½ (6.82); 3. Nia Robinson’ (Jam) 22-4½; 4. Claire Bryant (adidas) 22-2½ (6.77); 5. Gittens-Spotsville’ 22-1 (6.73).
TJ: 1. Davisleidis L. Velazco’ (Cub) 47-7 (14.50);
2. Agur Dwol (unat) 46-10¼ (14.28) (AL, CL) (4, x A);
3. Moore 46-7½ (14.21); 4. Charisma Taylor’ (Bah) 45-10½ (13.98).
SP: 1. *Akaoma Odeluga (Ms) 57-3½ (17.46); 2. Tapenisa Havea’ (Az-NZ) 55-10¼ (17.02); 3. *Maria Deaviz (Vill) 55-0 (16.76).
Wt: 1. Jalani Davis (unat) 83-6¾ (25.47) (8, 10 W, A);
2. *Anthonett Nabwe’ (Mn-Lbr) 80-11¼ (24.67) (6, x C);
3. *Giavonna Meeks (Tx) 80-4¼ (24.49) (7, x C).
