Bearkats visit Houston in final tune-up for SLC
1/28/2016 12:57:00 PM | Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
With two weeks until the Southland Conference Indoor Championships, Sam Houston State track and field will spends its final weekend of the regular season at the two-day Houston Invitational, hosted by the University of Houston, Friday and Saturday at the Yeoman Field House.
“We aren't trying to overdo it,” eighth-year head coach David Self said. “It will be a flat track so we don't want to run too much stuff on the turns because it's hard on the ankles and knees. After this week, we'll have a really good idea where we sit. From there, we'll be able to make a final determination for the conference meet.”
The Bearkats have been impressive through their first three meets, most recently capturing six school records at New Mexico's Cherry & Silver Invitational, including senior weight thrower Ashley Jenkins, whose toss of 71 feet, ½ inch leads the nation.
For its efforts, the Sam Houston women came in ranked No. 33 in the first set of the USTFCCA team rankings on Monday, while the men placed No. 87. The Kats have captured seven of the Southland Conference's 12 Athlete of the Week honorees, including three from Jenkins.
The men's and women's programs enter the weekend with a combined 10 athletes ranked in the top 50 nationally, including senior Danielle Demas, tied for fourth at 8.18 in the 60-meter hurdles and junior Garrett Larson's 17 feet, 6 ½ inches for seventh in the pole vault.
While the names at the top of country's list have drawn the most attention, Self acknowledges that several others have boasted strong indoor seasons, something that will be necessary when every point matters at the league championships, Feb. 14-15 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.
“Kristina Hanks and Paula Smith having been doing a lot for us,” Self said. “Paula is a workhorse. Across the board, there are too many names to list. We look at our travel squad for the women and there is a good possibility that we have to tell someone who is a potential scorer we can't take them. We have so much depth across the board.”
Action gets underway in the track events on Friday at 4:30 p.m., with Ruth Amaku, Jordan Grady and Briana McCall running the 400 meters. The event will be followed by the men's 400 meters, with Eric Pouncy, Joshua Mack, Dedrick Brooks and Devon Rollins all competing in.
Demas will seek to continue her surge in the 60-meter hurdles, along with Kayla Knight-Papioannov, beginning at 5:05 p.m. On the men's side, William Stark and Damian O'Neal will represent Sam Houston.
The women's weight throw, featuring Jenkins, Madeline Walker, Yarixza Rivera and Kristine Hanks starts at 10 a.m. on Friday while Garrett Larson will be among 29 competitors, including teammates Tyler Jentzen and Ashton Summers in the pole vault on Saturday at 2 p.m.
