MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Stephanie Wangui raced to a pair of top-five finishes in the middle distance running finals on Sunday to lead the UTSA women's track & field team during the final day of this weekend's Conference USA Championships.
Wangui came up just short of successfully defending her league title in the 800m, as she finished third in 2:09.52. The Middle Tennessee duo of Agnes Abu (2:06.93) and Susan Aneno (2:07.58) finished ahead of the senior from Leander.
Earlier in the day, Wangui crossed the finish line fifth in the 1,500 meters with her time of 4:33.47, which gave the Roadrunners four points. Abu captured the gold medal in 4:22.90.
"In my five years with UTSA's track & field team, I have won races and I have lost races," Wangui said. "I experienced both defeat and victory today. I felt defeated during the 1,500 meters and felt victory in the 800. There is no other way I could appreciate this sport without its highs and lows and, today, I felt both sides."
The Roadrunners registered their top finish of the meet in the final event of the weekend, the 1,600m relay. UTSA's quartet of Jennifer Arinze, Sierra Andres, Paige Patterson and Evelyn Clark passed the baton in 3:40.58 en route to third place. Western Kentucky won the gold medal with its time of 3:39.05.
Earlier in the day, Clark (55.45) and Arinze (55.91) added another five points to the Roadrunners' team total following their sixth- and seventh-place efforts, respectively, in the 400m. Southern Miss' Mariam Kromah brought home the league crown in 52.11.
Mia Hicks scored points in a throwing event for the second consecutive day when she finished sixth in the shot put. The freshman from Conroe registered a career-best measurement of 45-0 ½ (13.73m) en route to picking up three points. Rice's Claire Uke was victorious with her put of 54-8 (16.66m).
In the first event of the day, Angel Sifuentes placed seventh in the javelin with a throw of 127-9 (38.94m) and that was good for a pair of points. FIU's Tiffini Hernandez won the event with her toss of 144-1 (43.91m).
Rice used a late surge to get past both meet host Middle Tennessee and defending champion Western Kentucky for the team title. The Owls scored 136 points, while the Blue Raiders and Lady Toppers finished with 129.5 and 117.5, respectively. UTSA was ninth with its 34 points.
The Roadrunners will return to action in two weeks at the NCAA Championships Preliminary Rounds. The three-day meet is scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 26, in Lawrence, Kan.
