NORMAN, Okla. — UTSA received individual championships from sophomores Keith Benford (high jump), Taylor Reed (pole vault) and Tyler Williamson (long jump) and the Roadrunners men's track & field team raced out to a 30.5-point lead on Friday after six scored events at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships.
The five-time defending champions, who are looking to match Lamar's league-record with their sixth consecutive title, finished the day with 66 points and it will enter the final day of competition with a commanding advantage over Stephen F. Austin, which stands second with 35.5. Sam Houston State (30), Lamar (21) and Central Arkansas (20.5) round out the top five. The 66 points is the top first-day total by the Roadrunners in program history (previous best: 47.5 in 2010).
Benford successfully defended his high jump crown and led a 22-point performance by four UTSA athletes in the event. The Pflugerville native cleared 7-0 ¼ (2.14m) to defeat freshman teammate Kerry Thompson by two inches. Benford’s league championship was the Roadrunners' fourth in a row and fifth overall in school annals. Senior Devon Bond (6-8 ¼/2.04m) placed fifth in his first high jump competition of the season and sophomore Sean Masek (6-6 ¼/1.99m) finished in a tie for eighth.
Meanwhile, Williamson broke the sand in 24-2 ¼ (7.37m) to edge Central Arkansas’ Jaron Criswell by an inch-and-a-quarter. It marked the first long jump title in program history and the Houston native now has won the last two conference crowns, as he was victorious at last spring’s Southland Outdoor.
Reed, an All-American last season at UT Tyler, tied the school record with his 16-4 ¾ (5.00m) clearance to lead a 15-point performance in the pole vault. The Tyler native finished in a four-way tie for the top spot but earned the gold medal due to the fewest amount of misses. In fact, his only three of the competition came when the bar was raised to 16-10 ¾ (5.15m). The championship also was a first in program annals. Seniors Kyle Kaase and Lucas Neeper added five points to UTSA’s team total with their sixth- and seventh-place efforts, respectively. Both athletes recorded 15-11 (4.85m) measurements, but Kaase finished one place ahead of his teammate after clearing 15-5 (4.70m) on his first attempt (Neeper needed all three tries).
The three titles pushed UTSA’s all-time total to 53 and 29 of those have come under the direction of five-time Southland Indoor Coach of the Year Aaron Fox.
The Roadrunners received eight points by virtue of their second-place finish in the distance medley relay. The quartet of seniors Brandon Chiuminetta and Canel Cole, freshman Crisshun Jamerson and junior Albert Cardenas finished the 4,000 race in 10:15.48. Lamar prevented UTSA from repeating as conference champions with their 10:08.35 clocking.
The sophomore tandem of Phil Steinert and Richard Garrett Jr. finished third and sixth, respectively, in the weight throw, which was good for nine more tallies. Steinert demolished his program record by nearly three feet with his toss of 59-9 ½ (18.22m). Meanwhile, Garrett Jr. also established a new personal best by nearly four feet with his heave of 56-6 ¾ (17.24m).
UTSA’s other two points came from junior Ivan Garcia, who placed seventh in the 5k, a race that was marred by it being stopped one lap early.
The Roadrunners also had a strong day on the track, sending 13 athletes into Saturday’s running finals, including four each in the 800m and mile.
In the heptathlon, Kaase scored 2,744 points in the first four events and he will enter the day of competition in fifth place. Neeper, meanwhile, sits ninth with his 2,510.
The two-day meet concludes on Saturday.
