HOUSTON and FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – In a field of some of the top runners in the country, Texas A&M University-Commerce track and field team's J.T. Smith shined bright at the Tyson Invitational by winning the 60 meter dash with a school-record time on Friday.
 
The Lions competed in two meets on Friday: the Howie Ryan Invitational at the Yeoman Fieldhouse in Houston, which was a one-day meet and the final results can be found HERE.
 
As well as the Tyson Invitational at the Tyson Indoor Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which continues on Saturday. Live results for the Tyson Invitational can be found HERE.
 
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Smith (Klein Oak) raced to a time of 6.59 seconds in the 60 meter dash prelims. That time was the fastest in the race and a new school record, breaking the record that he set earlier this season. That record stood for mere hours as he clocked in a time of 6.56 in the finals, which moves him into top five in the country.
 
Over in Houston, Tyke Owens (Lebanon Trail) took sixth in the high jump with a clearance mark of 6 feet 6.25 inches (1.99m). Chandler King (Hughes Springs) jumped 22 feet 9.25 inches (6.98m) for fourth in the long jump. In the triple jump, Trayveon Franklin (Montgomery) recorded a season-best mark of 50 feet 6.25 inches (15.40m), which was second at the meet and keeps him at second in the Southland.
 
In track events, Owens raced to a time of 6.87 seconds in the 60 meter dash prelims, taking third. In the finals, he placed seventh. Dorian Andrews (Dallas – Skyline) and Jordan Johnson (Guateng, South Africa) qualified for the 60 meter hurdles finals with times of 8.32 and 8.35, respectively. Both improved their times in the finals with Andrews taking seventh, clocking in at 8.26 seconds and Johnson finished eighth with a time of 8.30 seconds.
 
Casey Novelo (Burleson – Trinity) and Nicholas Deutsch (Frisco) went 7-8 in the one mile run with times of 4:15.62 and 4:17.69, respectively.
 
WOMEN
In Fayetteville, Naomi Ndukwe (Perserville, France) raced to a time of 56.08 seconds in the 400 meter run, which is her fastest time of the season and keeps her at second in the Southland Conference.
 
At Houston, Jenneil Jacobie (Piat Gros Islet, Saint Lucia) took second in the high jump with a personal-best mark of 5 feet 7 inches (1.70m), which is tied for fourth in the Southland. Maia Maury (Noisy-Le-Grand, France) cleared 5 feet 5 inches (1.65m) for fifth place.
 
Amaka Ezukanma (Fort Worth – Timber Creek) placed fourth in the triple jump with a season-best mark of 39 feet 3.75 inches (11.98m). Her mark is now third in the Southland.