Garrett Jr. to compete at NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday

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SAN ANTONIO — Sophomore Richard Garrett Jr. is one of 16 student-athletes that is scheduled to compete in the shot put on Friday at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The event is scheduled to be contested at 6:50 p.m. at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Station (click here for live results).

Garrett Jr. owns a season-best put of 61-8 ½ (18.81m), which ranks 13th in the field. The Garland native became just the second Roadrunner in school history and first in nine years to win Southland Conference Outstanding Field Performer last week. He collected the program's third shot put title with his third school record of the season at the Southland Indoor Championships and his winning mark added an inch-and-a-half to his previous personal best. The victory was his third in four outings this winter. He also earned gold medals at the season-opening Leonard Hilton Memorial (Jan. 14) and Texas Tech Invitational (Jan. 22). His only non-victory this winter came in a runner-up performance at the prestigious New Balance Invitational (Feb. 4).

"Richard has had an incredible indoor season," head coach Aaron Fox said. "Making the NCAAs has been a product of hard work, listening to his coaches and being determined and focused. Making it to the national meet as a sophomore is a huge stepping stone for him and, if he follows his game plan on Friday night, I think he can do very well."

This is the eighth year in a row that the UTSA men have been represented at the NCAA Indoor Championships and Garrett Jr. will attempt to become the sixth indoor All-American in program history. The previous five all have come since the 2004 campaign.