| Freshman Michael Cook became UTSA's fifth SLC Champion in the 1,500 meters on Sunday. |
NACOGDOCHES ? Freshman Michael Cook raced to UTSA's fifth-ever Southland Conference Championship in the 1,500 meters on Sunday and he helped lead the Roadrunners to a fourth-place finish at this year's SLC Outdoor meet at Fletcher Garner Track at Homer Bryce Stadium.
Cook crossed the tape in a personal-best 3:53.03 and defeated UT Arlington's Ozie Hood by a little more than a half second (.55) to become the program's first 1,500m winner since Henry Maruping was victorious eight years ago.
In a tight battle that came down to the final event, Southeastern Louisiana won its first-ever team title with 140 points after winning the day's final race, the 1,600m relay, and the Lions edged UT Arlington by a half point. Sam Houston State was third with 118 points and the defending champion Roadrunners scored a three-day total of 99.5.
UTSA posted four top-three finishes on Sunday.
The quartet of sophomore Kevin Hunt, junior Teddy Williams and sophomores John Matthews and Edmund Yeboah passed the baton in 40.35 to finish second in the 400m relay.
Meanwhile, freshman Greg Gabrisch and senior Tommy Wolfe placed second and third, respectively, in the pole vault with their clearances of 16-0 ? (4.90m). Gabrisch finished ahead of his teammate in the standings due to one fewer miss than Wolfe. Sophomore Lucas Neeper made it three Roadrunners in the top eight with his mark of 15-1 (4.60m), which gave UTSA 15 points in the event.
Williams was unable to defend his league crown in the 100m, as he finished third in 10.50 after leading for a majority of the race. The Tyler native pulled up late and was unable to compete later in the evening in the deuce, another event in which he was the defending title holder.
Matthews finished the meet with a total of 12 points following his contribution in the 400m relay along with fourth-place efforts in the 110m hurdles and 200m. The Baytown native clocked personal records in both events for the second meet in a row, registering a wind-aided 14.35 in the high hurdles before running the curve in 21.39 an hour later.
Other scorers for the Birds included junior Bryan Ugochukwu (fourth/800m/pr 1:51.59), junior Corey Vargas (fifth/1,500m/pr 3:58.62), senior Gaston Griffin (eighth/400m/48.51) and the 1,600m relay foursome of Ugochukwu, freshman Isah Muhammed, sophomore Terence Watson and Hunt (eighth/3:16.14).
UTSA will be back in action in three weeks when it heads to Norman, Okla., for the NCAA Midwest Regional. Griffin (400m), Williams, (100/200m), Whittaker (high jump) and the 400m relay team have qualified for the meet that will take place from May 29-30.