HOUSTON — UTSA won four events and registered two other top-three finishes at Friday's Howie Ryan Invitational, which was the team's final tune-up for this year's Conference USA Indoor Championships.
Ty Anderson took home a gold medal in the high jump with a personal-best clearance of 7-0 ¼ (2.14m), which ranks as the fifth-best performance in program history. That was an inch-and-a-half improvement over his previous career best and he now sits second in the Conference USA standings. It also was the first indoor triumph of his young career.
"It felt great to set a PR today," Anderson said. "I feel like I'm getting back to where I need to be for another shot at the title. We have a very young but hungry team and I'm confident that they're all ready for a dogfight come conference time."
Meanwhile, Dusan Makevic won the mile with a personal-best time of 4:05.96, which now stands as the second-best performance in school annals. It shaved more than five seconds off his previous career best of 4:11.15 clocked a year ago. His mark, when adjusted, ranks second on the league leaderboard. He also ran the anchor leg of the Roadrunners' third-place distance medley relay that broke the tape in 10:23.30.
The 1,600m relay foursome of Vasha Sheriff, Andres Salazar, Kaylan Harris and Jurmarcus Shelvin also was victorious in 3:17.23 and Victor Perez won the weight throw with his toss of 59-5 ½ (18.12m).
Barrett Brock was third in the pole vault following his make of 16-0 ¾ (4.90m), but he finished the 15-man competition as the top collegian. He now sits atop the circuit's rankings.
Kelsey Beniot placed fifth in the shot put 55-11 ¼ (17.05m) and that was second-best among collegians. He now ranks fourth in the conference standings.
"This was a great final tune-up before the Conference USA meet," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox said. "We are making the right steps towards a great performance in two weeks."
The Roadrunners will take next weekend off before competing at the conference's indoor meet from Feb. 24-25 in Birmingham, Ala.