Tennessee’s Cade Gray Shatters Records and Dominates at Razorback Invitational
Mel Kiper Jr. has highlighted a Tennessee defensive lineman among the most underrated prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft, drawing attention to a player whose potential could be overlooked by many.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Tennessee kicked off the Razorback Invitational in impressive fashion, delivering a series of strong performances in the men’s pole vault.
The event, held at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Track Center, saw Tennessee athletes secure four marks that now sit among the program’s all-time top 10 indoor track & field records.
Cade Gray was the standout performer of the day, claiming first place in the men’s pole vault with a personal best of 5.60m (18-4.5).
His remarkable performance not only earned him the top spot but also tied him with 2004 Olympic Champion Tim Mack as the third-best indoor performer in Tennessee’s history. Gray’s leap has him ranked fourth in the NCAA and second in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) this season, showcasing his formidable talent on the national stage.
The event saw other notable performances as well. Sophomore Grant Campbell made a significant impact in the men’s high jump, clearing an indoor personal-best height of 2.18m (7-1.75) to finish in third place.
This jump propelled him to eighth place on Tennessee’s all-time indoor high jump list, with the mark currently placing him fourth in the SEC for the season.
In the men’s sprints, junior T’Mars McCallum turned heads with a personal best in the 200-meter dash, crossing the line in 20.76 seconds. This time moved him into ninth place on Tennessee’s indoor 200m leaderboard, and his performance also ranks him as the ninth-best performer in the NCAA this year.
On the women’s side, sophomore Ka’Myya Haywood impressed in her 800-meter season opener, running a time of 2:07.41.
She finished second in her heat and seventh overall, signaling her potential for a strong season ahead. Graduate student Kaniya Johnson also had a strong showing, winning her heat in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.76 seconds, setting a new season-best and finishing 11th overall.
Rookie Aidan Ifkovits continued to build on his early promise, registering a personal-best throw of 20.06m (65-9.75) in the men’s weight throw.
His impressive performance earned him 10th place at the meet and moved him up to the No. 9 spot on Tennessee’s all-time list. Furthermore, Ifkovits now holds the top mark among all NCAA Division I true freshmen, underscoring his rising talent in the event.
Tennessee athletes also set a number of personal records during Day 1 of the competition, with six individual bests recorded across various events. The standout performances included:
T’Mars McCallum: Men’s 200m – 20.76 seconds
Jarryn Lowe: Men’s 800m – 1:52.28
Grant Campbell: Men’s High Jump – 2.18m (7-1.75)
Cade Gray: Men’s Pole Vault – 5.60m (18-4.5)
Aidan Ifkovits: Men’s Weight Throw – 20.06m (65-9.75)
Kylie Feeney: Women’s 800m – 2:12.30
As Tennessee continues its participation in the Razorback Invitational, the team will compete in 13 events on Saturday, starting at 11:20 a.m. ET with the men’s 60-meter qualifying heats and concluding around 5:15 p.m. with the women’s 4×400-meter relay.
This meet not only showcases the team’s potential for the season but also highlights the ongoing development and breakthroughs of several athletes as they push toward new personal milestones and team records.
