WACO, TEXAS – The UTSA track & field teams yielded nine top-five finishes at the Baylor Invitational on Saturday. Highlighting the Roadrunners' efforts were Vincent Perez and Steven Thomas taking the top two spots in the men's hammer throw.
NOTE: Cold temperatures and high winds forced numerous UTSA student-athletes to scratch from their events.
THROWS
Perez claimed UTSA's lone event win of the meet with a 56.59m best distance in the men's hammer throw. The hurl on his fifth attempt of the day marked a personal-best for the junior and ranks fifth in the UTSA record book. Steven Thomas finished second in the event with a best distance of 52.84m. Mia Hicks placed fifth in the women's hammer with a throw of 50.18m and Faith Olszak 13th with a 42.07m distance.
Adrian Riley came away third in the men's javelin with a distance of 53.95m and Jake McDaniel ninth after a chuck of 45.62m. Gabriyella Torres placed 14th in the women's javelin with a final distance of 32.23m. Riley, McDaniel and Torres are multis athletes, who were competing in individual events as the meet did not feature the multis.
In the men's shot put, Kelsey Benoit claimed silver after he put the implement 16.12m. Derek Fenton (14.51m) placed sixth and Mike Zuniga (12.97m) ninth. N'Dia Warren-Jacques placed fifth in the women's shot with a throw of 13.74m, Maia Campbell sixth with a 13.45m effort and Brentanny Birdow 15th with a best of 10.80m.
Benoit took fifth in the discus with a distance of 48.32m on his sixth and final attempt of the day. Fenton placed ninth after a hurl of 43.09m.
JUMPS
Chandler Iturraga, a freshman, led UTSA in the men's high jump, clearing 1.90m on his third attempt at the height.
Ariel Watson placed the Roadrunners in the women's long jump with a leap of 5.28m as Chase Whiting leapt 5.03m to place 15th and Danielle Spence 4.82m to place 19th. Jahkwan Blackley was UTSA's lone men's long jumper, placing 10th with a cleared distance of 6.26m.
DISTANCE
John von Dohlen and Olivia Flores competed in the men's and women's 2,000m steeplechase, respectively. Von Dohlen placed third with a time of 6:31.05 and Flores stopped the clock in a personal-best 8:03.05 to place eighth.
Up next
The Roadrunners return to Austin next weekend (Friday-Saturday, April 13-14) for the Texas Invitational.
UTSA Results
Track Events
2,000m steeplechase (w)
8. Olivia Flores – 8:03.05
2,000m steeplechase (m)
3. John von Dohlen – 6:31.05
Field Events
Javelin (m)
3. Adrian Riley – 53.95m
9. Jake McDaniel – 45.62m
Javelin (w)
14. Gabriyella Torres – 32.23m
Hammer throw (w)
5. Mia Hicks – 50.18m
13. Faith Olszak – 42.07m
Hammer throw (m)
1. Vincent Perez – 56.59m
2. Steven Thomas – 52.84m
Shot put (m)
2. Kelsey Benoit – 16.12m
6. Derek Fenton – 14.51m
9. Mike Zuniga – 12.97m
Shot put (w)
5. N'Dia Warren-Jacques – 13.74m
6. Mia Campbell – 13.45m
15. Brenttany Birdow – 10.80m
Discus (m)
5. Kelsey Benoit – 48.32m
9. Derek Fenton – 43.09m
High jump (m)
4. Chandler Iturraga – 1.90m
Long jump (w)
9. Ariel Watson – 5.28m
15. Chase Whiting – 5.03m
19. Danielle Spence – 4.82m
Long jump (m)
10. Jahkwan Blackley – 6.26m
