Aggies’ best could still be yet to come

Texas A&M adds to legacy in indoor men’s 4x400 relay with another collegiate record, moves closer to all-time world best following performance at Razorback Invitational

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It was no surprise that Texas A&M produced the indoor collegiate record in the men’s 4x400-meter relay.

After all, the Aggies entered the meet with the four fastest indoor college times in history.

But for Fred Kerley, Richard Rose, Devin Dixon and Mylik Kerley to break the record Saturday at the Razorback Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Center provided an indication they could challenge the all-time world best in March on their home track at the NCAA Division 1 Championships, if not sooner.

Texas A&M clocked 3 minutes, 2.52 seconds to eclipse the Aggies’ mark of 3:02.86 set by Gregory Coleman, Bralon Taplin, Shavez Hart and Deon Lendore at the 2015 NCAA final, producing the fourth-fastest indoor 4x400 relay ever run, trailing only three United States national teams.

The U.S. clocked 3:01.96 in 2006 in Fayetteville, Ark., but the performance was only recognized as an American record and not a world record because there was no post-race drug testing. With the effort by Texas A&M, three of the six fastest indoor 4x400 relays in history have been produced in Fayetteville, two by the Aggies.

The current world record is 3:02.13 set by the American quartet at the 2014 World Indoor Championships in Poland.

The Aggies entered the meet with the fastest collegiate time of 3:05.41 set Jan. 14 at the Texas A&M Team Invitational, with a lineup that included Robert Grant instead of Dixon.