The Sam Houston State University track and field program competed in the University of Texas at San Antonio Invitational Friday and Saturday where combined together, both the men’s and women’s team earned 25 top five finishes.
The women’s team finished the meet in fourth place with a score of 103.5 points while the men finished in fifth with 81 points.
On the women’s side, and in the event for the first time on the collegiate level, sophomore middle distance Camry Grigsby secured first place after she completed the 1,500 meter-run in 4:45.04.
Junior throws Kristine Hanks and sophomore combined events Courtney Lord also took home gold medals at the meet. Hank threw a weight 14.31 meters in the shot put event, while Courtney Lord jumped 5.79 meters in long jump.
Senior throws Ashley Jenkins, who recently competed at the NCAA Championships, began her outdoor season in the hammer throw event where she threw a toss of 61.32 meters and secured second place.
Junior throws Elizabeth Lyssy also secured second place in the javelin throw with a toss of 46.61 meters, just .20 meters behind Kansas State’s Haley Pitko who took first.
In pole vault, senior Ashley Thompson took second place after she reached four meters.
Multiple Bearkats completed their events with a career best. In the 1,500 meter run, junior middle distance Briana McCall finished the race with a career best of 4:47.33 while freshman sprint/hurdles Tristyn Allen had a best of 12.10 meters in triple jump. Freshman sprints Melicha Smith completed the 100-meter dash with a best of 11.79 seconds and Freshman Jamie Eckford finished the 800-meter run with a best of 2:17.18.
“We have a lot of talent on our team,” junior Justin Jenkins said. “They all finished strong in the indoor season, so I hope for them to carry that over to the outdoor season as well.”
On the men’s side, junior combined events Jonathan Andrews took first place in discus throw with a throw of 30.85 meters and .41 meters behind him was sophomore Multievents Tyler Adams who secured second place with a throw of 30.44 meters.
Sophomore middle distance Jeffery Moore ran a career best in the 1,500-meter race and earned second place with a time of 4:01.75. Also who placed second in their event was Jenkins who completed the 100-meter dash in 10.51and junior pole vault Garrett Larson tied for second against Stephen F. Austin’s pole vault Daven Murphree with a jump of 5 meters in the pole vault event.
In the discus throw, sophomore Aaron Akens took home a bronze medal with a toss of 50.42 meters while sophomore Anthony Garcia came in fourth in the javelin throw with a toss of 59.43 meters.
“It was just our first outdoor meet,” Jenkins said. “So, hopefully we all learn from it and forget about it and strive to be outdoor champs like we were indoor season.”
On Friday the Bearkats will travel to Houston to take part in the two day Victor Lopez Classic hosted by Rice University and continue on their path to the Southland Outdoor Championships.