Kats Contend At Longhorn Invite On Saturday
5/1/2014 11:30:00 AM | Track & Field
The Sam Houston men's and women's track & field programs will take part in their final tune-ups of the outdoor season on Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin after recently adding the Longhorn Invitational to their schedule.
“We're looking to go in and get a meet in; a little bit of competition before we go to the conference meet,” head coach David Self said. “The work is done, it's just trying to sharpen up; really just more on the technical end as we get ready for the conference.”
In addition to SHSU, the scored meet will feature competitors from 12 different programs including Akron, Baylor, Cal State Northridge, Colorado, Kentucky, McNeese State, North Texas, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Utah and Virginia Tech.
In their last action, the Bearkats took to San Antonio placing 23 top three finishers and 10 personal bests at the UTSA Invitational while out west, Alyssa Dooley broke a school record in the 1500 meter dash (4:26.06) at the Mt. SAC Relays from Walnut, Calif.
“She's come such a long way as someone who really struggled her freshman year,” Self said. “She's an example of what we look for in our athletes. The successful ones all decide early in their career 'I'm going to be good' and they have to be the ones to do that. If you're not intrinsically motivated, it's not going to happen. She's done that.”
Another notable from Alamo City included the debuts of football players Andre Moseley and Alfred Pinkey who each recorded high jumps of 6 ft. 4 ¾ inches in fourth place finishes.
“We talked with (head coach) K.C. (Keeler) about it and waited until they got done with spring ball,” Self said. “They both came out, had done some stuff in practice and they have some ability. Right now, they're both ranked in the conference so if they continue in that direction I think they can help us out at the conference meet.”
Last weekend, the Kats used their first bye week since the outdoor season began on March 22 to help put on the UIL Region III-4A Championships at Bowers Stadium.
“As much work as that was on Friday and Saturday, you still get a chance to not be on the road competing and the stresses of that,” Self said. “I like the fact the kids put a meet on because they're actually the grunt force work behind everything that goes on. It makes them appreciate what it really takes to put on a track meet, especially a large scale championship meet.”
The one-day Longhorn Invitational will commence from Austin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday with the field events before the runners kick off their action at 4:45. The meet will serve as the last action of the season before the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships from May 9-11 in Conway, Ark.
QUICK HITS
• Saturday's Longhorn Invitational will mark SHSU's 15th meet since the Kats opened the 2014 season on Jan. 11 at the Houston Indoor Opener
• A trio of Bearkats rank in the top 50 nationally including Sabrina Starr at 22nd in the 100 meter hurdles (13.32), Rodney Jones at 33rd in the 1500 meter dash (46.65) and Adrienne Quillin at 40th in the hammer throw (191 ft. 3 inches)
• The SHSU men and women boast a combined 28 top five performers in the Southland Conference including five league leaders
• In their last trip to Austin, the Kats broke four school records at the Texas Relays including both 1600 sprint medley relay squads
• After their debuts at the UTSA Invitational, dual-athletes Andre Moseley and Alfred Pinkney rank tied for eighth in the high jump amongst all conference competitors
