Victor Lopez Invitational - Rice
Kats strong at Victor Lopez Invite
3/24/2019 7:17:00 PM | Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
HOUSTON – The Sam Houston State Bearkats competed in the Victor Lopez Invitational during the weekend at the Wendel D. Ley Track & Field Holloway Field in Houston. Multiple athletes delivered high caliber performances during the competition.
The Bearkats had many athletes take first place in their events. For field events the event winners were: Aaron Akens (hammer throw), Saige Revell (triple jump), Tristyn Allen (triple jump) and Clayton Fritsch (pole vault).
Akens' throw of 63.33m surpassed his previous career-best in the hammer throw event. Fritsch recorded a jump of 5.56m, which set a new career best for him in the outdoor pole vault, surpassing his previous best of 5.30m. His mark is currently the second highest jump in the currently at this point.
Revell skipped for 14.62m and Allen skipped for 12.58m.
For the running events, the athletes that took home first place honors were: senior Chris Jefferson (100-meter dash) and freshman Jo'vaughn Martin (200-meter dash). Jefferson finished the race with a time of 10.40. Martin ran for a 20.51, surpassing his previous best time of 21.12 which he posted at the Victor Lopez during the 2018 Outdoor campaign. That mark is also the fastest time posted so far throughout the country.
SHSU's relay teams fared well over the weekend. The men's 4x100 relay team won the event with a team composed of Fabian McCall, Chris Jefferson, Bryan Henderson and Jo'vaughn Martin. The team completed the race with a time of 39.30, which is the third fastest time in the country. The women's 4x100 relay team placed third with a team composed of Jasmin Mitchell, Kenaysia Dixon, Tristyn Allen and Arianna West. The team recorded a time of 46.71. The men also won the second heat in the 4x400 with a team of Marlon Hardeman, Chris Jefferson, Lawrence Coleman and Myriq Freeman.
Senior Tyler Adams competed in multiple events during the meet and recorded a new career-best mark in the javelin throw. Adams posted a mark of 55.39m. This mark surpassed his throw of 47.04m that he set back in 2016 during the ACU Wes Kittley Invitational. He also participated in the long jump and placed fourth with a mark of 7.33m.
Other noteworthy field event results:
Senior Michael Nichols placed third in the shot put with a throw of 16.96m. For the women, Lauryn Caldwell set new career-highs in the hammer throw and discuss throw. The senior recorded a mark of 55.02m in the hammer throw and 49.05m in the discus throw.
Other noteworthy running event results:
Senior Jordan Leon beat his previous time in the 5000-meter race. Leon recorded a time of 14:52.99 to beat his previous best time of 15:11.06 that he posted during the Bryan Clay Invitational in 2018. Sophomore Joshua Smith competed in the 110m and 400m hurdle races. He placed third in the 110m race and fourth in the 400m race. For the women's side sophomore Hailey Chorn set a new career-best in the 5000-meter race with a time of 19:10.61.
The outdoor track season is now in full swing for the Bearkats. The team will travel to Austin on Wednesday March 27 to compete in the Texas Relays. The meet will run through Saturday.
