![Story Poster](https://f5s001media.blob.core.windows.net/photos/0057551-kcni-1280x720.jpg)
Men’s 4x400 Wins Conference Title in Baylor TF’s Big 12 Championship Finale
NORMAN, Okla. – Baylor track and field closed the 2023 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the John Jacobs Track and Field Complex on Saturday afternoon. The men’s team finished seventh with 70 points, while the women earned sixth over the three-day meet.
The Bear men finished nearly three full seconds before the runners-up crossed and dominated to a 3:00.73 4x400-meter relay title. The group of Matthew Moorer, Hasani Barr, Nathaniel Ezekiel and Dillon Bedell made it two straight 4x400 conference wins for the Bears.
Both BU 4x100-meter relay squads came out with a great start to the day. Mariah Ayers, Imaobong Uko, Bria Bullard and Michaela Francois put up a season-best 43.75 for a silver medal. Just after, Kamden Jackson, De’montray Callis, Bedell and Moorer shot out to a 39.12 result and a bronze medal.
Returning for a chance to repeat at the title, Ezekiel was narrowly edged out by Texas Tech’s Caleb Dean. The sophomore still beat his prelim mark that set the facility record and reset the Big 12 Championship record on Saturday afternoon.
In her first and final Big 12 Outdoor Championship, Annamaria Kostarellis fought to a silver medal in the 5,000 meters sporting a 16:02.99. Following in the men’s edition, Ryan Day won All-Big 12 honors after clawing to fifth after 14:14.09.
Uko and Ayers crossed 4-5 in the women’s 400-meter final for a combined nine team points. Uko barely bested Ayers at 52.13 and 52.19, respectively. Back again in the 200 meters, Ayers won the bronze medal at 23.08 seconds, followed by Uko in seventh after 23.64 seconds.
The men’s 400 meters also featured a pair of back-to-back Bears. Bedell and Barr’s difference went down to the thousandths, but Bedell came out in sixth with a 45.451 while Barr stayed in seventh after 45.455.
Junior Gontse Morake missed a top-3 spot by just one-tenth of a second, but still ran a season-best time of 57.02 seconds to get fourth in the 400-meter hurdles.
The women’s high jump featured two Bears on the podium, as Aïcha Moumin finished fifth at 5-7 ¾ to earn four team points, while Moorea Long tied for sixth in her final meet as a Bear.
Elijah Morris hurdled to a fifth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles for four team points after a 13.92-second race.
Koi Johnson jumped to four team points at the triple jump pit after taking fifth in the event. With a legal wind reading, Johnson jumped 42-2 ¾ on her third attempt.
The BU women ended another conference meet with a 4x400 All-Big 12 finish. The crew of Jasmine Gryne, Morake, Bullard and Kavia Francis ran a 3:37.31 to claim sixth place and win three team points.
Inside the Mosier Indoor Facility, Ben Conacher vaulted up and over his first bar at 16-11 and stopped there. The new graduate took sixth in the event.
A personal best in the 100 meters propelled Bullard into seventh place and onto the podium. The sophomore clocked an 11.33-second race at a legal 0.2 m/s wind.
Jackson returned back for the men’s race and finished fifth at 10.26 in the 100 meters. In his third race, Jackson took home the bronze medal after 20.62 seconds and led Demar Francis who crossed the line sixth.
In her third event of the meet, Makayla Long narrowly missed another set of All-Big 12 honors on Sunday, finishing ninth in the women’s discus after throwing 164-flat. Also in his third event, Gary Moore Jr. threw 159-5 in the men’s event for 12th.
QUOTABLE
Head coach Michael Ford
On the weekend…
“I thought both of our teams competed hard and we got all we could’ve out of these men and women. It was good to end Thursday and tonight with a win from Zaza and our 4x400-meter relay with a new meet and facility record. Coach [David] Barnett did a great job with our distance crew, especially proud of Anna [Kostarellis] and Ryan Day in the 5k. Coach Stacey [Smith] had a great day with Aïcha [Moumin], Moorea [Long] and Koi [Johnson] all placing top-8. Coach [Brandon] Richards continues to get scorers with Ben Conacher in the pole vault and Coach [Jeff] Chak did well with scorers in the shot put and hammer. I am very proud of the sprints and hurdle groups. We needed points from them specifically and they delivered. Lastly, I am so thankful for our seniors. I am glad they were a part of our track and field family.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The Bears have a week off to find out who qualifies into the first round of the NCAA Championships. This year’s west preliminary will be held May 24-27 in Sacramento, Calif.