The Sam Houston State track and field teams started the 2010 indoor season with strong performances in meets at McNeese State Friday and Texas A&M Saturday.
In a field that featuredthe region’s best competitors, the young Sam Houston State track and field team put on a strong showing Saturday at the Texas A&M Invitational. The Bearkat men and women posted 11 top 10 finishes in the event.
The McNeese State meet gave some of Sam Houston’s younger athletes an opportunity for their first collegiate action and head coach David Self saw some positives in both meets.
“There were good performances in both meets,” Self said. “It was great to get things underway and see what everyone could do.”
At Texas A&M, both the Sam Houston men’s and women’s relays put on quality performances.
Monika May, Folashade George, Tonicia Wimberly and Jessica Fisher teamed for a fifth place finish in the women’s 4×400 with a time of 3:48.76.
Jay Newman, Roger Rueweker, John Thomas and Courtney teams for a sixth place finish in the men’s 4×400, running 3:13.11.
Among the top individual finishes at Texas A&M was Kristi Hermes’ third place in the women’s pole vault with a mark of 11 feet 6.5 inches.
Producing fifth place finishes were Scottie Jones 60m hurdles (8.25), Michael Courtney men’s 400m dash (47.25) andJason Russell men’s weight throw (53′ 11.25″).
Newman was seventh in the 60m hurdles (8.25), Clint Anders ninth in the mile (4:23.27) and Jacob Schultz 10th in the weight throw (47′ 7″) to provide other highlights for the men.
Jenny Zoch was seventh (48′ 9″) and Christina Webb ninth (47′ 0.25″ in the weight throw and Ambra McCuin 10th in the long jump (18′ 1.75″) to post strong marks for the women.
At McNeese Friday, Stephen Brown won the men’s triple jump and was one of seven Bearkats to post a runner-up finish. Brown won the triple jump with a mark of 46 feet, 8 inches. He also finished second in the high jump with a leap of six feet.
Other men’s runners-up included Matt Johnson in the 55 meter hurdles (7.78) and Roger Rueweler in the 600 meter run (1:22.81). Women who posted runner-up finishes included Alyssa Dooley in the mile run (5:33.03), Dakota Stewart in the 600 meter run (1:38.75), Kristin Gallow in the long jump (17′ 2.75″) and Shelbie Zotyka in the pole vault (10′ 11.75″)
Next action for the Sam Houston track and field teams will be the Wes Kittley Invitational hosted by Texas Tech in Lubbock next Saturday, Jan. 23.