The fastest in the nation that year, landing at number five all-time
On a late May afternoon in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the University of Texas men's track and field program etched itself more deeply into the national record books — not through a single moment, but through a collective assertion of excellence. Kenrick Smallwood's 13.04-second run over the hurdles, the fastest in the nation and fifth-fastest in collegiate history, anchored a day in which seven Longhorns secured their places at the NCAA Championships in Eugene. It is the kind of performance that reminds us how individual brilliance and team depth are not opposites, but companions on the long road toward something lasting.
- Smallwood shattered his own school record by eight hundredths of a second, a margin that in sprinting represents an enormous leap — and instantly placed him among the greatest collegiate hurdlers ever to compete.
- The 400-meter hurdles became an unexpected Texas showcase, with both Blackwood and Brinkley running among the fastest times of the evening and punching their own tickets to Eugene.
- Field event qualifiers Daniel and Agbonkonkon delivered quiet, precise performances — no drama, just the exact marks needed to advance — adding crucial depth to the Longhorns' national roster.
- Both relay teams advanced, the 4x100 on time and the 4x400 as an automatic qualifier, signaling a program operating with rare cohesion across every discipline.
- With seven men's qualifiers secured, Texas now turns its attention to the women's competition Saturday, where additional national berths remain within reach.
Kenrick Smallwood crossed the finish line in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the clock read 13.04 seconds — the fastest 110-meter hurdle time in the nation that year, faster than his own school record set just weeks prior at the SEC Championships. The performance placed him fifth on the all-time collegiate list and announced, with quiet authority, that Texas had arrived at the NCAA West Prelims with serious intent.
It was the third day of competition at John McDonnell Field, and the No. 18-ranked Longhorns were building something. The 400-meter hurdles became a program showcase: Kody Blackwood won his heat in 49.09, earning his fourth NCAA Championship appearance, while Chris Brinkley Jr. ran a personal best of 49.56 to rank eighth all-time among Texas performers. Both men were headed to Eugene.
The field events contributed with professional efficiency. Kelsey Daniel opened his triple jump with a 16.57-meter mark to qualify sixth, and Osawese Agbonkonkon matched his career best in the high jump at 2.17 meters to finish tenth and advance. Neither performance was spectacular — both were exactly what was needed.
Texas also sent both relay teams to nationals. The 4x100 squad ran 39.23 to advance on time, while the 4x400 group finished second in their heat with a season-best 3:02.12 for an automatic qualifier. Others — Popelka in the 400, Bennett in the steeplechase, Dunn in the discus — competed without advancing, contributing the kind of effort that quietly builds a program over time.
With seven men's qualifiers locked in, attention shifted to Saturday's women's competition, where a full slate of events — relays, hurdles, sprints, and distance semifinals — offered the chance to grow that number before the journey to Eugene began.
Kenrick Smallwood stood at the starting line in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on a Friday afternoon in late May, ready to run 110 meters over ten hurdles. When he crossed the finish line, the clock read 13.04 seconds—a time that would echo through the record books. It was the fastest in the nation that year, faster than his own previous school mark of 13.12 set just weeks earlier at the SEC Championships. With that single run, Smallwood didn't just punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He vaulted himself into the conversation with the best collegiate hurdlers in history, landing at number five on the all-time list.
This was the third day of the NCAA West Prelims at John McDonnell Field, and Texas Men's Track & Field was building momentum. The No. 18-ranked Longhorns had come to Arkansas with ambition, and Smallwood's record-breaking performance set the tone for what would become a dominant showing. By the end of the day, seven qualifiers had secured their spots for nationals—a haul that spoke to the depth of the program.
Beyond Smallwood's headline achievement, the 400-meter hurdles became a Texas showcase. Kody Blackwood won his heat in 49.09, the second-fastest time of the evening, earning his fourth trip to the NCAA Championships. Chris Brinkley Jr. ran a personal best of 49.56 to finish third in his heat, clocking the sixth-fastest time of the night and cementing his place among Texas's all-time performers at number eight. Both men had earned their way to Eugene.
The field events added to the tally. Kelsey Daniel opened his triple jump competition with a mark of 16.57 meters on his first attempt, good enough for sixth place and a national qualifying standard. Osawese Agbonkonkon matched his career best in the high jump, clearing 2.17 meters to finish tenth and secure his own berth. These were not flashy performances—they were solid, professional executions that got the job done.
Texas also qualified both of its relay teams. The 4x100-meter squad of Smallwood, Xavier Butler, Jayden Jones, and Gabriel Remy ran 39.23 to advance on time. In the 4x400-meter relay, the quartet of Brinkley, Blackwood, Popelka, and Sihle Mahlangu finished second in their heat with a season-best 3:02.12, earning the automatic qualifier. These relay performances underscored a program firing on multiple cylinders.
Other Longhorns competed without advancing. Logan Popelka clocked 45.98 in the 400 meters, Hudson Bennett finished the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:11.51, and Shaiquan Dunn threw 54.49 meters in the discus. They had shown up, competed, and left everything on the track and field—the kind of effort that builds a program, even when the result isn't a trip to nationals.
With the men's competition concluded, attention turned to Saturday. The women's team would take their turn at John McDonnell Field, beginning with the 4x100-meter relay at five in the evening. Jeanne Le Goff was scheduled for the triple jump at six. A full slate of quarterfinals awaited: the 100 meters, 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, 200 meters, and the 5,000-meter semifinals. Texas was heading to Eugene with seven men's qualifiers already locked in, and the women's side still had a chance to add to that number.
Notable Quotes
Smallwood broke his own school record with a nation-leading time of 13.04 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles quarterfinals, eclipsing his previous Texas record of 13.12 set at the SEC Championships— Texas Athletics
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
What made Smallwood's 13.04 so significant? It's a fast time, but why does it matter that he's fifth all-time?
Because collegiate track has a century of history. Being fifth all-time means he's in conversation with the absolute elite—the runners who defined the event. It's not just a school record; it's a statement that he belongs in a very small club.
The relay teams qualified on time, not by winning their heats. What does that distinction mean?
It means the standard was set before the race even started. They had to run fast enough to meet the NCAA's threshold, regardless of where they finished. It's a different kind of pressure—you're racing the clock, not just the people next to you.
Seven qualifiers from one day seems like a lot. Is that typical for a program like Texas?
It's a strong showing, but Texas is a top-tier program. What's notable is the spread—hurdles, jumps, relays. They didn't just dominate one event. They showed depth across the board.
The women's team still had Saturday to compete. Did that feel like unfinished business?
Not unfinished—just the natural rhythm of a two-day meet. The men had their day, the women had theirs. But yes, there was still opportunity on the table. Jeanne Le Goff in the triple jump, the relay teams, the sprinters. The story wasn't over.
What does it mean for a program to send seven men to nationals?
It means you have options. You have depth. When you get to Eugene, you're not just hoping one or two stars perform. You have multiple chances to score points, multiple chances to place, multiple chances to win. That's how programs build championships.