? Entries/live results
SAN ANTONIO ? The UTSA women’s track and field team will compete in the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships held this Friday-Sunday, May 4-6, at Fletcher Garner Track/Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches.
The three-day meet kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Friday with the first event in the heptathlon, the 100-meter hurdles. Saturday’s action starts at 9:30 a.m. with the second day of the heptathlon, followed by field events at 1 p.m. and running events at 5 p.m. The final day begins with the field events at 10:30 a.m. and the running finals at 5:05 p.m. Complete meet information, heat sheets and live results can be found at here.
Sam Houston State is the defending champion after scoring 164 points for a comfortable win ahead of Texas State (135) last year.
The Roadrunners are looking to improve upon last year’s fifth-place finish behind a strong senior class led by three-time All-American and two-time SLC Athlete of the Year Ryanne Dupree. The East Central High product was the 2005 SLC Outdoor Athlete of the Year, Outstanding Track Performer and High Point Scorer with 25.5 points. A redshirt last year, Dupree won the heptathlon with a meet record 5,465 points and the 100m hurdles (13.60) and helped the 4x100m relay to victory as UTSA placed fourth two years ago.
This season, Dupree has earned SLC Athlete of the Week honors five times and leads the league in three different events: 100m hurdles (13.25), long jump (20-4 ?) and heptathlon (5,818). She is automatically qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the heptathlon in which she ranks second in the country, and is regionally qualified in the 100m hurdles and long jump.
Also in that senior class is defending 800 meters champion Veronica Silva, who clocked a 2:12.79 in leading a quintet of Roadrunners in the top six finishers at last year’s meet. Senior Diane Smith was second in the 800m, while sophomore Brittney Britton was fourth.
Other seniors include four-time All-SLC performer Lyndsey Sidney, who ran on the conference champion 4x100m relay team in 2005, Hope Jimenez, an all-league performer in cross country this past fall, and Brianna Mendez.
UTSA is looking for its first SLC crown since winning back-to-back titles in 1996-97. The highest finish in that span was third in 2002. The Roadrunners have captured 43 individual or relay championships since joining the league in 1992, including five by current athletes.
