NEW YORK, N.Y. — UTSA's 1,600-meter relay team raced to a gold medal on Saturday to highlight the women's track & field team's final day of action at this weekend's Armory Invitational.
The quartet of Chelsea Taylor, Jennifer Arinze, Sierra Andres and Paige Patterson passed the baton in 3:45.73, which now stands as the fifth-best time in program history. The foursome now has recorded two of the top five performances in school annals this season.
Several Roadrunners set season and career bests during the meet's final day, highlighted by Syd Howells, who returned to the New Balance Track & Field Center banked oval on Saturday and set another career best on the weekend with a 24.54 clocking in the 200m. She placed 15th in the field of 105 athletes in her top effort of the indoor season, which vaulted her into third place in the school's all-time performance list and seventh place in this year's Conference USA standings.
"My weekend went well and it was very unexpected," Howells said. "Going forward, I'm going to keep working hard and focus on myself."
Meanwhile, Gabriyella Torres recorded the highest individual finish for the Roadrunners by placing fourth in the high jump. The sophomore from Port Isabel cleared 5-3 (1.60m) in the field of 15 jumpers. Western Ontario's Devyn Mackenzie captured the gold medal with her mark of 5-5 ¾ (1.60m).
Two other UTSA athletes finished in the top 10, including Shalise Borden, who registered a career-best toss of 57-2 (17.42m) in the weight throw to place sixth, and Elesha Alyn, who also finished sixth in the triple jump with a measurement of 40-6 ¾ (12.36m).
Other notable efforts included N'Dia Warren-Jacques with her season-best toss of 47-1 ¾ (14.37m) in the weight throw; Lynette Amaram, who ran the 800m in a season-high time of 2:19.16; De'Stini Henderson (24.93) and Sierra Andres (25.60), who raced to career bests in the 200m; and Caroline Bellows, who cleared a season-high mark of 11-5 ¾ (3.50m) in pole vault.
The Roadrunners finished 12th in the team standings with 19 points. Oklahoma won the title with 72 points, while Duke and Ohio State tied for second with 60.
"This was a great meet for the team," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox said. "We accomplished what we needed and, once again, the Armory was good to us.
UTSA will return to action next Friday, Feb. 10, when it travels to Houston for the Howie Ryan Invitational in what will be the final tune-up for this season's C-USA Indoor Championships.
