| Feb. 21, 2004 Expanded Results (Precision Timing) HOUSTON – UTSA seniors Justin Youngblood, Leticia Cerna and Letitia Gilkes each claimed gold medals to highlight day two of the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the Bill Yeoman Field House. Behind the strong finishes of Cerna in the mile run and Gilkes in the 800-meter, UTSA claimed third place overall for the second straight season, with 84 points. Texas State claimed the SLC women’s title with 128 points, followed by Stephen F. Austin, 95.6, UTSA, 84, Sam Houston State, 81.5, Texas-Arlington, 68.5, McNeese State, 45, Northwestern State, 42, Lamar, 34, Louisiana-Monroe, 29, Southeastern Louisiana, 14.3 and Nicholls State, 2. Sophomore Ryanne Dupree from San Antonio East Central High School also factored into the success, finishing fourth in the individual point standings with 18. “We are very excited, I think that basically we are a young team that stepped up and did a good job,” said UTSA women’s coach James Blackwood. “Gilkes and Cerna were absolutely magnificent, along with Ryanne Dupree and Rosalind Holmes and the rest of them did a great job. Everyone got out there and competed well.” Youngblood’s finish in the heptathlon, where he totaled 5,483 points, helped UTSA claim sixth place overall. Texas State won the men’s title with 119.50 points, followed by Stephen F. Austin with 94, Sam Houston State, 91, Texas-Arlington, 69, Northwestern State, 68.50, UTSA, 50.50, McNeese State, 41.50, Louisiana-Monroe, 41, Southeastern Louisiana, 28 and Lamar, 20. Youngblood, who led the meet with 20.50 individual points, earned all-America honors outdoors in the heptathlon at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships. He redshirted last season after knee surgery. “I did a lot of events and it took its toll on me here, but when I get to nationals I will do a whole lot better because I won’t have to do all of these other events and I will be a whole lot fresher,” said Youngblood, who was the Outstanding Field Performer in 2002 at the SLC Indoors. “I’m still trying to get back to where I was a couple of years ago. I’m just starting to get my legs back under me and starting to get the feel of it again.” Cerna, who also finished 10th in the 3,000-meter run, thrilled the crowd with her come-from-behind win in the one-mile event. “My strategy coming in was to sit and let the lead group take it , and then I was going to kick, because I knew I had a strong kick,” said Cerna, who turned in a personal best of 4:52.02 in the event, despite not leading until the last lap. “Part of my strong finish was my training coming in with Coach (Rose) Monday and just the passion of wanting to win the race. It’s a big load off of my back to win this race and now I’m looking forward to the NCAA’s, and than outdoors.” Gilkes also ran a leg as UTSA finished second in the 4x400-meter event with a time of 3:47.62. “It was all about strategy, I went out there focused on winning, more so than my time,” said Gilkes, who turned a season-best time of 2:12.39 in the 800-meter. “Next week I will look to turn in a better time at the last chance meet and earn a spot at Nationals.” Junior Rosalind Holmes also had a standout meet for UTSA, earning second place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.75, while finishing third in the 60-meter dash in 7.68. “I never expected this,” said Holmes, a native of Kerens, Texas. “I just had to focus on my start and get to the end without letting up. I’m kind of sore and tired right now, but excited about how I ran.” UTSA claimed another medal in the men’s 800-meter run, with freshman Larry Brooks finishing second with a personal best time of 1:54.59. “In the events we ran I thought we competed very well and ran their hearts out,” said UTSA men’s coach Aaron Fox. “The performance of the meet was by Justin Youngblood. He scored in the long jump, scored in the high jump, scored in the 60-meter hurdles and also won the heptathlon. I was also very pleased with Larry Brooks in the 800 and mile relay.” UTSA’s closed the meet by taking second place in the 4x400-meter with a time of 3:19.04. |