Texas Relays
The Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays is an annual track and field competition held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. The University of Texas serves as host for the event, held on either the last weekend of March or first weekend of April.
Events are held in High School, College, University, and Invitational divisions.
History
[edit | edit source]In response to cold-weather conditions at the Kansas Relays,[1] the Texas Relays was started as a men's-only competition in 1925 by University of Texas coach Clyde Littlefield and athletic director Theo Bellmont.[2] The Relays were held at Memorial Stadium until Mike A. Myers Stadium was opened in 1999.[3] The meet was not held 1932–1934 as a result of the Great Depression.[3] Women's events were added in 1963.[3]
To encourage attendance in the early years of the event, various publicity stunts were staged. The most successful was a 1927 stunt in which three Tarahumaras were invited to the Relays. These men were famed as runners who never stopped running. A race was staged between the men from San Antonio to Memorial Stadium. After 14 hours and 53 minutes, the 89 mile race ended in a tie.[1]
In 1977, electronic timing was introduced at the Relays, and Olympic gold medalist and Texas Longhorns football player John Wesley Jones recorded a time of 9.85 seconds in the 100 meter dash. This would have set a world record, but it was determined that the timer malfunctioned, and the time was unofficial.[1]
The Texas Relays are currently the second largest track meet in the United States, behind only the Penn Relays.[4] Today, approximately 50,000 spectators and 5,000 athletes attend the events.[1][5]
Local impact
[edit | edit source]According to the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2007, the Relays generate US$8 million for local business.[6] Much of this traced to the fact that the event has become a social destination for young African Americans. A number of groups organize networking and development events for African Americans to take place in downtown Austin during the Relays.
Following alleged issues involving crime, some local businesses close for the Relays weekend.[7][8] In 2009 Highland Mall closed several hours earlier than normal on account of the Texas Relays.[9]
Some advocates of the Relays state that there is not a significant increase in crime during the Relays weekend. Some businesses have nonetheless chosen to not operate or to close early.[10][11][12][13]
Divisions
[edit | edit source]The University Division is open to schools in NCAA Division I. The College Division is open to schools in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, or NJCAA schools. The University/College Division is open to schools that qualify for either division separately. The High School Division is separated into two levels, Division I and Division II. Division I is open to schools in the University Interscholastic League classes A, AA, or AAA (or their interstate equivalents). Division II is open to schools in UIL classes AAAA or AAAAA. Schools that normally compete in Division I may compete in Division II if they wish.[14]
Events held
[edit | edit source]| Event | Invitational Men | Invitational Women | University Men | College Men | University / College Women | High School Boys | High School Girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1500 m | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| 1600 m | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Mile | ✓ | ||||||
| 3200 m | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| 5000 m | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| 10,000 m | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| 100 m hurdles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| 110 m hurdles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 400 m hurdles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| 2000 m steeplechase | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| 3000 m steeplechase | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| High jump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Pole vault | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Long jump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Triple jump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Shot put | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Discus throw | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Hammer throw | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Javelin throw | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Heptathlon | ✓ | ||||||
| Decathlon | ✓ | ||||||
| 4 × 100 m relay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4 × 200 m relay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| 4 × 400 m relay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4 × 800 m relay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| 4 × 1500 m relay | ✓ | ||||||
| 1600m sprint medley | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Distance medley | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Source.[15] Note: Some men's events are combined for the university and College divisions.
Meet records
[edit | edit source]Men
[edit | edit source]Women
[edit | edit source]| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Ref. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 10.93 | Dawn Sowell | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 1989 | ||||||||||||||
| 200 m | 22.08 (+1.2 m/s) | Gabrielle Thomas | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 30 March 2024 | [29] | |||||||||||||
| 400 m | 50.19 | Shamier Little | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 27 March 2021 | [17] | |||||||||||||
| 800 m | 2:00.25 | Shafiqua Maloney | File:Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 28 March 2024 | [30] | |||||||||||||
| 1500 m | 4:13.53 | Dana Mecke | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 31 March 2018 | [31] | |||||||||||||
| 3000 m | 9:13.90 | Teena Colebrook | File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain | 1991 | ||||||||||||||
| 5000 m | 15:25.27 | Elizabeth Leachman | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 28 March 2024 | [32] | |||||||||||||
| 10,000 m | 31:28.92 | Francie Larrieu-Smith | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 1991 | ||||||||||||||
| 100 m hurdles | 12.36 (+2.0 m/s) | Masai Russell | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 1 April 2023 | [18] | |||||||||||||
| 400 m hurdles | 54.37 | Britton Wilson | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 25 March 2022 | [27] | |||||||||||||
| 3000 m steeplechase | 10:10.93 | Trina Cox | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
| High jump | 1.95 m | Erin Aldrich | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 2000 | ||||||||||||||
| Amy Acuff | 31 March 2012 | [33] | ||||||||||||||||
| Pole vault | 4.91 m | Jenn Suhr | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 30 March 2019 | [34] | |||||||||||||
| Long jump | 7.14 m (+1.0 m/s) | Tara Davis | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 26 March 2021 | [35] | |||||||||||||
| Triple jump | 14.48 m (+1.0 m/s) | Tori Franklin | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 30 March 2018 | [36] | |||||||||||||
| Shot put | 18.58 m | Laura Gerraughty | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
| Discus throw | 67.98 m | Valarie Allman | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 29 March 2024 | [37] | |||||||||||||
| Hammer throw | 74.18 m | Brooke Anderson | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 28 March 2019 | [38] | |||||||||||||
| Javelin throw | 60.82 m | Kara Winger | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 27 March 2015 | [39] | |||||||||||||
| Heptathlon | 6412 pts | Anna Hall | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 23–24 March 2022 | [23] | |||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| 4 × 100 m relay | 41.74 | Team USA Red: Tamari Davis Gabrielle Thomas Jenna Prandini Anavia Battle |
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 29 March 2025 | [40] | |||||||||||||
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:27.05 WB | Team International: Dina Asher-Smith Rhasidat Adeleke Lanae-Tava Thomas Julien Alfred |
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland File:Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica File:Flag of Saint Lucia.svg Saint Lucia |
30 March 2024 | [41] | |||||||||||||
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:22.94 | University of Texas: Rhasidat Adeleke Kennedy Simon Stacey-Ann Williams Davicia Patterson |
File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland File:Flag of the United States.svg United States File:Flag of the United States.svg United States File:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
25 March 2022 | [27] | |||||||||||||
| 4 × 800 m relay | 8:20.69 | Louisiana State University: Lorena Rangel Batres Callie Hardy Cindy Bourdier Michaela Rose |
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 1 April 2023 | [42] | |||||||||||||
| 4 × 1500 m relay | 18:11.51 | Arkansas: Paige Johnston Jillian Rosen Miranda Walker Kristen Gillespie |
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 8 April 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| Sprint medley relay (2-2-4-8) | 3:36.10 | University of Texas: Julien Alfred Rhasidat Adeleke Kennedy Simon Valery Tobias |
File:Flag of Saint Lucia.svg Saint Lucia File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland File:Flag of the United States.svg United States File:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
31 March 2023 | [43] | |||||||||||||
| Distance medley relay | 10:59.86 | Louisiana State University: Cindy Bourdier Garriel White Michaela Rose Lorena Rangel Batres |
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 31 March 2023 | [44] | |||||||||||||
Results by year
[edit | edit source]| 2020s | 2010s | 2000s | 1990s | 1980s | 1970s | 1960s | 1950s | 1940s | 1930s | 1920s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 2019 | 2009 | 1999 | 1989 | 1979 | 1969 | 1959 | 1949 | 1939 | 1929 |
| 2028 | 2018 | 2008 | 1998 | 1988 | 1978 | 1968 | 1958 | 1948 | 1938 | 1928 |
| 2027 | 2017 | 2007 | 1997 | 1987 | 1977 | 1967 | 1957 | 1947 | 1937 | 1927 |
| 2026 | 2016 | 2006 | 1996 | 1986 | 1976 | 1966 | 1956 | 1946 | 1936 | 1926 |
| 2025 | 2015 | 2005 | 1995 | 1985 | 1975 | 1965 | 1955 | 1945 | 1935 | 1925 |
| 2024 | 2014 | 2004 | 1994 | 1984 | 1974 | 1964 | 1954 | 1944 | 1934 | |
| 2023 | 2013 | 2003 | 1993 | 1983 | 1973 | 1963 | 1953 | 1943 | 1933 | |
| 2022 Archived 2022-04-19 at the Wayback Machine | 2012 | 2002 | 1992 | 1982 | 1972 | 1962 | 1952 | 1942 | 1932 | |
| 2021 | 2011 | 2001 | 1991 | 1981 | 1971 | 1961 | 1951 | 1941 | 1931 | |
| 2020 | 2010 | 2000 | 1990 | 1980 | 1970 | 1960 | 1950 | 1940 | 1930 |
References
[edit | edit source]- General
- Texas Relays records April 2024 updated
- Specific
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- ^ Austin welcomes Texas Relays visitors, officials say 30 March 2010.
- ^ Boarded-Up Bars During Texas Relays Raise Eyebrows 21 April 2011.
- ^ “Welcome” to the Police State of 6ixth 9 April 2011.
- ^ Austin, TX: Afraid of a lot of black people? 2009. ClutchFans.
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