The Texas Tech Track and Field Team has a Strong Outing on the First Day of Competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships

The Texas Tech track and field team traveled to Eugene, Oregon to compete in the NCAA Outdoor Championships this week.  Both teams really showed out on day one as the team had two Red Raiders qualify in their events and five Lady Raider qualify including the 4x100 meter relay team.

Le'Tristan Pledger, Cierra White, Candace Jackson, Olivia Lewis, and Amoy Blake round out the Lady Raiders that qualified on Wednesday.  Pledger became the first Lady Raider to advance to the finals of the women's long jump since 2005 with a jump of 6.29 meters.  White, Jackson, Lewis, and Blake were the members of the 4x100 meter relay team which qualified with a time of 45.03 seconds.  Cierra White also competed by herself in Eugene in the 100 meters dash.  Her time of 11.19 seconds was good enough for seventh overall and more importantly sent her to the finals.

Kole Weldon led the way for the Red Raiders as he finished third in the shot put with a throw of 19.28 meters.  His throw was not only good enough to qualify but it also was the best performance for a Texas Tech athlete in the shot put event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.  Isaiah Gill was the other Red Raider to qualify in his event of the 400 meter hurdles.  His time of 50.51 was good enough to place eighth overall.

Texas Tech continues action at the NCAA Championships Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. on ESPN 3.