Texas Tech freshman Temitope Adeshina records one of top NCAA high jumps all-time
In recent years, two-time NCAA champion Zarriea Willis and Big 12 champion Sidney Sapp set the standard for Texas Tech women's high jumpers.
Temitope Adeshina needed only two meets into her college career to change the standard.
The 25-year-old freshman from Nigeria cleared 6 feet, 5 inches Friday night at the Sports Performance Center, breaking the school record — Willis's 6-2 1/4 — and tying the facility record set four years ago by 13-time U.S. champion Vashti Cunningham. Adeshina got 6-5 on her third attempt, then was mobbed on the mat by Tech assistant coach Keith Herston and teammates.
"It's a great achievement for me," she said. "Thank God I worked for it and God make it happen, and thanks to my coach."
Adeshina's 6-5 clearance is tied for ninth in collegiate history, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association records.
"It was fantastic," said Herston, who coaches Tech jumpers. "She's got a lot to learn, and she actually learned a lot tonight. Put a lot of stuff together that we've been working on. That last jump, that's the best approach she's run in her life, and she really had a big clearance over that 1.96 (meters)."
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Adeshina's performance came on opening night of the two-day Corky Classic, which resumes at 10:40 a.m. Saturday.
"I don't even know what to say. I'm just happy," she said. "I'm glad I can do it."
One damper: Tech coaches took Adeshina's word for it that the 2024 Olympics automatic qualifying standard is 1.96 meters, so after she cleared 6-3 1/4 and was the only competitor left, the bar was moved to 6-5. They found out only after the fact the standard, raised by World Athletics in December 2022, is 1.97 meters.
She'll still have all season to jump at 1.97.
Adeshina arrived at Tech in August. She said she was well-acquainted with Tech's recent contingent of Nigerian track and field athletes and was encouraged to come stateside by sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma.
A two-time national champion back home, Adeshina came to Tech with a personal record of 6-4 1/2. Because she started high school several years late, Herston said, he assumed incorrectly her age would make her ineligible.
"I said, 'I'm just going to reach out to her anyway and see if she's interested in Texas Tech'," Herston said. "Never thought she would be eligible. Sure enough, she's not only eligible; she's got four years of eligibility left. Lord willing we'll be able to keep improving the way we have this year already."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech's Temitope Adeshina records one of top NCAA high jumps all-time
