Texas_Relays

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 first or second weekend of April.

Events are held in High School, College, University, and Invitational divisions.

History

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

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]

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.[9][10][11][12]

Divisions

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.[13]

Events held

More information Event, Invitational Men ...

Source:.[14] Note: Some men's events are combined for the university and College divisions.

Meet records

Men

More information Event, Record ...

Women

More information Event, Record ...

Texas Relays results

More information 2020s, 2010s ...

References

General
Specific
  1. Holton, Avery (2001-04-05). "Texas Relays: History in the making". The Daily Texan. Archived from the original on 2006-09-04.
  2. "History of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays". Texassports.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  3. McMicken, Glen (2005-03-31). "Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays: A to Z". Texassports.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  4. Treon, Ricky (2006-04-07). "Five reasons to watch Texas' premiere track event". The Daily Texan. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
  5. Rentfro, Daryl (2006-04-05). "Texas Relays 2006 Preview". The Daily Texan. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
  6. Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau (2007-03-27). "March Madness Means Millions for Austin". Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on 2007-10-19.
  7. "Austin businesses to close weekend of Texas Relays". Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  8. "Austin clubs, mall plan to close during Relays". Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  9. "2005 Entries Information". TexasSports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-01-03.
  10. Kofi Asare (27 March 2022). "Benjamin Azamati Sets New National 100m Record". kofiasare.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  11. Doug Binder (28 March 2021). "LSU's Terrance Laird Leaves Field in the Dust With 19.81 200 Meters at Texas Relays". dyestat.com. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  12. "Russell breaks collegiate 100m hurdles record at Texas Relays". World Athletics. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  13. "5000m Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  14. "400m Hurdles Results". flotrack.org. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  15. "Russell breaks collegiate 100m hurdles record at Texas Relays". World Athletics. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  16. Jon Mulkeen (31 March 2018). "Lavillenie, Barber and Duplantis vault 5.92m at Texas Relays". IAAF. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  17. "Men's Triple Jump Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  18. Jon Mulkeen (26 March 2022). "Thomas, Harrison and Barnes fly to speedy wind-assisted times at Texas Relays". World Athletics. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  19. "Discus Throw Results". www.texassports.com. 30 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  20. "Distance Events highlight Day Two of 2018 Texas Relays". texassports.com. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  21. "Neugebauer Shatters Texas Relays Decathlon Record with 8,708 Points". watchathletics.com. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  22. "2022 Texas Relays Results" (PDF). texassports.com. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  23. "Men's 4×800m Relay Results". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 1 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  24. "Women's 200m Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  25. "800m Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  26. "Texas Relays 2018 Results". tfrrs.org. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  27. "5000m Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  28. "Russell breaks collegiate 100m hurdles record at Texas Relays". World Athletics. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  29. "2022 Texas Relays Results" (PDF). texassports.com. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  30. James Dunaway (1 April 2012). "Richards-Ross and Duncan impress at Texas Relays". IAAF. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  31. "Pole Vault Result". tfrrs.org. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  32. Tyler Mayforth (26 March 2021). "COLLEGIATE RECORD: Tara Davis Sets Outdoor LJ Standard". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  33. Adam Kopet (31 March 2018). "Tori Franklin Jumps to Second on All-Time American Triple Jump List at Texas Relays". dyestat.com. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  34. "Discus Throw Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  35. "Austin -TX- (United States), 27-30.3.2019 -Texas Relays-". trackinsun.blogspot.com. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  36. "Javelin Throw Results". flotrack.org. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  37. Rick Cantu; Danny Davis (1 April 2023). "Texas Relays notebook: Longhorns set meet record in 400-meter relay". statesman.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  38. "Women's 4×200m Relay Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  39. "2022 Texas Relays Results" (PDF). texassports.com. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  40. "Women's 4×800m Relay Results". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 1 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  41. Rick Cantu; Danny Davis (1 April 2023). "Texas Relays notebook: Longhorns set meet record in 400-meter relay". statesman.com. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  42. "Women's DMR Results". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 31 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.

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