Taplin runs 44.88 WL at Charlie Thomas Invitational

February 4, 2018

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Superb 44.88 world 400m lead for Grenada´s Bralon Taplin at the Charlie Thomas Invitational on Saturday (3 Feb).

Bralon Taplin 400m — Taplin competed in the 400 metres event at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing without advancing from the first round. He switched his allegiance from the United States to Grenada in December 2012

Taplin’s time, in front of a 2,015 crowd at Gilliam Indoor Stadium, is the fifth best performer ever. Only Americans (44.57 Kerron Clement, 44.63 Michael Johnson, 44.85 Fred Kerley) and his country mate Kirani James (44.80) have ran faster.

The time is only the 8th sub 45 indoor performance ever.

Aggie alum Taplin just missed the Grenada national record of 45.80 set by Kirani James as well as the Gilliam facility record of 45.85 set by Texas A&M’s Fred Kerley last year.

“Bralon Taplin was already leading the world, and now he is really leading the world in the 400,” said said Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry.

Deon Lendore, running in another section of the Olympic development 400m, produced a time of 45.85 to place second overall behind Taplin.

“Deon Lendore hasn’t had a race in two years and he ran a 45.8. I’m extremely proud of that guy,” noted Henry.

Brenessa Thompson 60m — Thompson represented Guyana in the 2014 World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she made the semi finals in the 100m. She has a personal best in the 100m of 11.14 and holds the Guyanese record in the 200m with a time of 23.19

Guyanese Brenessa Thompson (7.38) led an Aggie 1-2 in the 60m with Amber Ivy claiming the runner-up spot in 7.47. Danyel White (23.28), meanwhile, won the 200m while Thompson finished third in 23.66 with Virginia Kerley fourth at 23.79.

In the women’s 400m, Quanera Hayes beat Jessica Beard (52.28 to 52.66).

Elijah Hall won the 200m in 20.51 and Jeff Demps the 60m in 6.66. Devon Williams scored 5804 points in heptathlon.