Chris Robinson and Caleb Dean, who used to run for South Plains College and Texas Tech, respectively, finished first and third in the men's 400-meter hurdles on Sunday, July 26, the last of the four-day U.S. Track and Field Championships in New York City.
Robinson ran a time of 47.61 seconds in the final at Icahn Stadium, and Dean clocked 48.66. The victory Sunday was Robinson's first U.S. title.
After competing for South Plains, Robinson transferred to Alabama, where he won the 400 hurdles at the 2023 NCAA championships.
Dean was the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's athlete of the year in 2024 when he became the first man to win NCAA titles in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and the outdoor 400-meter hurdles in the same year.
The Red Raiders won the NCAA indoor team title in 2024.
In all, six former area athletes medaled at the U.S. championships. Three finished second: Khaleb McRae in the men's 400 meters; Alaysha Johnson in the women's 100-meter hurdles; and Monae' Nichols in the women's long jump.
McRae, a South Plains College grad, ran 44.41 in the 400. Johnson, who finished her college career at Texas Tech, went a wind-legal 12.42 in the 100 hurdles. Nichols, who also finished her career with the Red Raiders, had a wind-legal jump of 22 feet, 8 1/2 inches.
Zach Bradford, who finished his college career at Tech, vaulted 18-9 1/4.
Three members of the 2026 Red Raiders' team posted top-eight finished. Tamiah Washington went a wind-legal 43-3 for seventh in the women's triple jump, and Evelyn Lavielle cleared 5-10 1/2 to tie for seventh in the women's high jump.
In the men's 110-meter hurdles, Malachi Snow ran 13.36 in legal wind for eighth.
U.S. OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Icahn Stadium, New York, New York
Current and former Texas Tech, South Plains College athletes
Event finals unless otherwise indicated
Thursday, July 23
Men
100 meters first round: 5. Courtney Lindsey, 10.06 (-0.1), won heat
3,000-meter steeplechase first round: 2. Benard Keter, 8:23.65
Women
100 meters first round: 25. Alyssa Colbert, 11.55 (-1.7), fifth in heat
Friday, July 24
Men
400 first round: 1. Khaleb McRae, 44.65.
100 semifinals: 4. Courtney Lindsey, 9.86 (+3.2), second in heat
100 final: 5. Courtney Lindsey, 9.97 (+0.8)
Women
Triple jump : 7. Tamiah Washington, 43 feet, 3 inches (+1.0)
100 semifinals: 20. Alyssa Colbert, 11.37 (+0.3)
Saturday, July 25
Men
400 final: 2. Khaleb McRae, 44.41
3,000 steeplechase: Benard Keter, did not finish.
400 hurdles first round: 1. Caleb Dean, 48.47; 3. Christopher Robinson, 48.99, won heat.
Women
200 first round: 18. Brianna Howard, 23.95 (-1.4), seventh in heat
100 hurdles first round: 2. Alaysha Johnson, 12.64 (-0.9), won heat; 17. Symoria Adkins, 13.65 (-1.4), seventh in heat.
100 hurdles: 2. Alaysha Johnson, 12.42 (+0.0)
Sunday, July 26
Men
Pole vault: 3. Zach Bradford, 18 feet, 9 1/4 inches.
110 hurdles first round: 7. Malachi Snow, 13.32 (+0.0),second in heat; 14. Joel Nyatusah, 13.67 (+0.0), fifth in heat.
400 hurdles: 1. Christopher Robinson, 47.61; 3. Caleb Dean, 48.66.
110 hurdles: 8. Malachi Snow, 13.36 (+0.5).
Women
High jump: 7. (tie) Evelyn Lavielle, 5-10 1/2.
Long jump: 2. Monae' Nichols, 22-8 1/2 (+0.3).
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: SPC's Chris Robinson wins, Tech's Caleb Dean third at U.S. championships
