Tennessee Track Team Claims NCAA Championship in 4x100 Relay with Record Time

The University of Tennessee's track and field team achieved a remarkable feat by winning the 4x100-meter relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, on June 12. The relay team, consisting of Traunard Folson, Davonte Howell, T'Mars McCallum, and Elijah Clark, set a new school record with an impressive finish time of 37.98 seconds, surprising many of the expected frontrunners.

The Volunteers secured the national title with their record-breaking performance, finishing ahead of LSU, which clocked in at 38.06 seconds, and Ohio State, which took third place at 38.44 seconds. Notably, Auburn, the two-time defending champions who had set an NCAA record in the semifinals with a time of 37.75 seconds, did not complete the race due to a mishap during the final handoff.

Adding to Tennessee's success, JL Van Rensburg earned a second-place finish in the shot put on June 10, tying the school record previously established by Jordan West in 2022. The sophomore from Mossel Bay, South Africa, achieved a throw of 66 feet, 8.5 inches, while Oregon's Ben Smith won the event with a distance of 69 feet, marking the first shot put championship for Oregon in 44 years.

This victory highlights Tennessee's growing prominence in collegiate athletics, showcasing the talent and determination of its track and field program.