The SHSU track and field team opened its outdoor season with two NCAA Regional Automatic Qualifying Marks at Texas A&M last Saturday.
Sophomore Randy Flach qualified in the pole vault, placing fifth in the meet with marks at 16-0.75. The other qualifier, Jennie Sewell from the women’s team, also competed in the pole vault and placed second with 12-0.
Head coach Greg Hinze said the weather on Saturday was not conducive to really good performances.
“For them to do that in the vault with those conditions at the first meet of the year speaks to their ability and toughness,” Hinze said.
It was cold, wet and windy at the meet in College Station. Hinze said they ran into the wind for some unknown reason.
“The individuals we had who placed in their respective events competed well even though their marks weren’t necessarily great,” Hinze said.
From the men’s team, Clint Blinka placed second in the decathlon with 6,348 points and Shandy Oncken came in third for SHSU with 6, 242 points.
In the 100-meter dash, senior Chris Stewart ran 10.72, placing him in second. Courtney Boston placed eighth in the meet with a 10.96 run.
T.J. Cretors came in eighth in the javelin, throwing 195-7.
In the shot put, senior Clint Gallagher placed seventh throwing 49-1.75.
Keith Jenson ran 1:56.72 in the 800-meter dash, receiving fifth place for SHSU. Aaron Russell placed seventh in the 400-meter and Stewart ran 21.80, coming in fifth in the 200-meter dash.
The 400-meter relay team, Brad Buegler, Courtney Boston, Shane Christian and Chris Stewart, came in third at 41.72.
From the women’s team, 15 placed for SHSU. In the 100-meter dash, Joyce Oyakhire placed third, Rachel Stevenson placed fourth and Kym Norsworthy came in seventh. The times were 12.31, 12.37 and 12.45 respectively.
Freshman Crystal Anderson ran 57.97 in the 400-meter dash, placing fourth.
Chaterra Blake placed eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 37-0.75.
In the 200-meter dash, Oyakhire and Stevenson placed sixth and eighth.
In long distance, Karina Mancias placed fourth for SHSU in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 18:26.26.
Tenika Powell threw 43-10.75 in the shot put, placing fifth.
SHSU’s 400-meter relay “B” team came in third with a time of 47.64. The “A” team placed fourth at 47.67.
The 4×400-meter relay team of Crystal Anderson, Quantinette Fields, Rachel Stevenson and Tiara Young placed fourth with a time of 3:58.18
“It was a typical first meet,” Hinze said. “Plus we were coming off of Spring Break and I think some of us were still on break when we showed up at the meet.”
Hinze said overall, no one from any teams really did anything outstanding.
The SHSU track and field team will travel to Houston March 28-29 for the Rice Bayou Classic.