Wednesday, June 10
Eugene, Oregon
Baylor
at
NCAA Outdoor Championships
T&F: Kelley Caps Final Season with Bookend All-America Honors
6/14/2026 12:01:00 AM | Track & Field
Senior sprinter finishes 8th in 200 meters out of Lane 9
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
EUGENE, Ore. – It certainly didn't come easily, but senior Tiriah Kelley capped off her final collegiate season with bookend All-America honors, finishing eighth in the finals of the 200 meters Saturday night at the NCAA Championship at Hayward Field.
Drawing a difficult Lane 9 assignment, Kelley wasn't able to keep up with record-setting Georgia freshman sprinter Adaejah Hodge, who won in a collegiate-record 21.68 after breaking the 100-meter record two days earlier at 10.63.
Kelley, who said she "started to get long" over the last 50 meters, nipped USC's Christine Mallard to finish eighth in 22.54. That is the eighth-fastest time in program history and gives her eight of the top 11 marks all time.
"It's been a great year, so I can't disregard all the good times I've been running and all the good races we've had," Kelley said. "Only nine of us made it to (the finals) today, and I was one of those nine. So, I'm proud of that."
Starting out of Lane 9, "you're running blind," Kelley said.
"I will say, I am used to chasing. I'm used to getting such a good lane and I'm used to seeing people in front of me," she said. "And I think that helps me with the type of runner that I am. . . . It was a challenge, but I can't beat myself up about it. I had an amazing year. So, I'm proud of that, for sure."
More of a "big picture guy," Baylor coach Michael Ford said he remembers Kelley "sitting next to me in the stands" for the final day of last year's NCAA Championship.
"I was disappointed in her finish, but for her to get her first outdoor All-America title individually, that was big. And then, too, I look back at all the stuff she's done. You get third at the national indoor after not being able to run in the conference meet, and then you win your first Big 12 title. For me, it was bittersweet. We wanted her to be an All-American, and she got that piece. But I thought coming in, if she ran her best, she could be top three."
Combined with the five points that pole vaulters Molly Haywood and Tenly Kuhn earned, the Baylor women finished in a tie for 38th in the final team standings with six points.
Baylor's only other competitor on the final day of the NCAA Championship was sophomore Logan Todorovich in the heptathlon. After a difficult first day, Todorovich bounced back to score well in the long jump, javelin and 800 meters to finish 20th with 5,533 points, the third-best total in program history.
Starting the day in 21st (out of 24), Todorovich moved up two spots with a long jump season best of 19 feet, 9 ½ inches and climbed another spot to 18th with a javelin best of 125-0 on her first attempt.
In the closing 800 meters, Todorovich ran a time of 2:25.11 to pick up another 755 points.
The Baylor women lose their three All-Americans (Haywood, Kuhn and Kelley), but they bring back a group that includes second-team All-Americans Janae De Gannes (long jump), Serafima Lucero (400-meter hurdles), Ruth Kimeli (10,000 meters) and 4x100 relay legs Royaltee Brown, Jada Edwards and Hannah Lowe.
"For me, it's kind of seeing where we could get a little stronger and how we can be a better team next year," Ford said.
For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
WOMEN
200 meters: Tiriah Kelley, 8th, 22.54
Heptathlon
Logan Todorovich
Long jump: 9th, 19-9 ½ (859 points)
Javelin: 11th, 125-0 (631 points)
800 meters: 20th, 2:25.11 (755 points)
Overall: 20th, 5,533 points (third-best all-time)
FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Molly Haywood, 5th, pole vault, 15-0 ½ (career best)
Tenly Kuhn, 8th, pole vault, 14-8 ¾
Demario Prince, 6th, 110-meter hurdles, 13.25
Tiriah Kelley, 8th, 200 meters, 22.54
SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Women's 4x100 relay (Royaltee Brown, Tiriah Kelley, Jada Edwards, Hannah Lowe), 13th, 43.52
Janae De Gannes, 12th, long jump, 20-11 ¾
Serafima Lucero, 13th, 400-meter hurdles, 56.54
Ruth Kimeli, 15th, 10,000 meters, 32:44.13
EUGENE, Ore. – It certainly didn't come easily, but senior Tiriah Kelley capped off her final collegiate season with bookend All-America honors, finishing eighth in the finals of the 200 meters Saturday night at the NCAA Championship at Hayward Field.
Drawing a difficult Lane 9 assignment, Kelley wasn't able to keep up with record-setting Georgia freshman sprinter Adaejah Hodge, who won in a collegiate-record 21.68 after breaking the 100-meter record two days earlier at 10.63.
Kelley, who said she "started to get long" over the last 50 meters, nipped USC's Christine Mallard to finish eighth in 22.54. That is the eighth-fastest time in program history and gives her eight of the top 11 marks all time.
"It's been a great year, so I can't disregard all the good times I've been running and all the good races we've had," Kelley said. "Only nine of us made it to (the finals) today, and I was one of those nine. So, I'm proud of that."
Starting out of Lane 9, "you're running blind," Kelley said.
"I will say, I am used to chasing. I'm used to getting such a good lane and I'm used to seeing people in front of me," she said. "And I think that helps me with the type of runner that I am. . . . It was a challenge, but I can't beat myself up about it. I had an amazing year. So, I'm proud of that, for sure."
More of a "big picture guy," Baylor coach Michael Ford said he remembers Kelley "sitting next to me in the stands" for the final day of last year's NCAA Championship.
"I was disappointed in her finish, but for her to get her first outdoor All-America title individually, that was big. And then, too, I look back at all the stuff she's done. You get third at the national indoor after not being able to run in the conference meet, and then you win your first Big 12 title. For me, it was bittersweet. We wanted her to be an All-American, and she got that piece. But I thought coming in, if she ran her best, she could be top three."
Combined with the five points that pole vaulters Molly Haywood and Tenly Kuhn earned, the Baylor women finished in a tie for 38th in the final team standings with six points.
Baylor's only other competitor on the final day of the NCAA Championship was sophomore Logan Todorovich in the heptathlon. After a difficult first day, Todorovich bounced back to score well in the long jump, javelin and 800 meters to finish 20th with 5,533 points, the third-best total in program history.
Starting the day in 21st (out of 24), Todorovich moved up two spots with a long jump season best of 19 feet, 9 ½ inches and climbed another spot to 18th with a javelin best of 125-0 on her first attempt.
In the closing 800 meters, Todorovich ran a time of 2:25.11 to pick up another 755 points.
The Baylor women lose their three All-Americans (Haywood, Kuhn and Kelley), but they bring back a group that includes second-team All-Americans Janae De Gannes (long jump), Serafima Lucero (400-meter hurdles), Ruth Kimeli (10,000 meters) and 4x100 relay legs Royaltee Brown, Jada Edwards and Hannah Lowe.
"For me, it's kind of seeing where we could get a little stronger and how we can be a better team next year," Ford said.
For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
WOMEN
200 meters: Tiriah Kelley, 8th, 22.54
Heptathlon
Logan Todorovich
Long jump: 9th, 19-9 ½ (859 points)
Javelin: 11th, 125-0 (631 points)
800 meters: 20th, 2:25.11 (755 points)
Overall: 20th, 5,533 points (third-best all-time)
FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Molly Haywood, 5th, pole vault, 15-0 ½ (career best)
Tenly Kuhn, 8th, pole vault, 14-8 ¾
Demario Prince, 6th, 110-meter hurdles, 13.25
Tiriah Kelley, 8th, 200 meters, 22.54
SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Women's 4x100 relay (Royaltee Brown, Tiriah Kelley, Jada Edwards, Hannah Lowe), 13th, 43.52
Janae De Gannes, 12th, long jump, 20-11 ¾
Serafima Lucero, 13th, 400-meter hurdles, 56.54
Ruth Kimeli, 15th, 10,000 meters, 32:44.13
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Multi
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Tuesday, May 19
Sunday, May 17
Sunday, May 17
