HOUSTON — Gary Haasbroek broke four records with a gold-medal performance in the heptathlon to headline action for the UTSA men's track & field team at the Houston Invitational on Saturday at Yeoman Fieldhouse.
Haasbroek scored 5,949 points to cruise to victory by more than 600 points and set four different records in the process. The freshman from Melbourne, Australia, eclipsed the previous UTSA record of 5,519 set by Brandon Buteaux in 2005 and toppled the previous Australian national mark of 4,875 established by Cameron Crowley in 2015. Haasbroek also took down the meet record of 5,483 set by former Roadrunner Justin Youngblood in 2004 and surpassed three-time NCAA Champion Donovan Kilmartin's Yeoman Fieldhouse mark of 5,752 from 2005.
"For a freshman to come in and do what he did in this meet is just an amazing performance," UTSA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox said. "To break four records and now to be sitting atop the NCAA list after his first heptathlon as a collegian is incredible. As impressive as Gary was this weekend, he has so much room to grow and we're excited about what the future holds for him."
Haasbroek entered the final three events in first place after scoring 3,255 points in the first four disciplines on Friday, which included a school-record leap of 25-1 ¼ (7.65 meters) in the long jump. He opened Saturday's action by adding 947 points after crossing first in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.14 seconds. He then moved into second place on UTSA's all-time pole vault performers list with a clearance of 16-8 ¾ (5.10m), which also led the heptathlon field. Haasbroek closed out the seven-event competition with a 2:46.15 clocking to finish second in the 1,000m and win the heptathlon by 617 points ahead of Denim Rogers of Houston Baptist.
Haasbroek led a trio of Roadrunners in the heptathlon, as Jake McDaniel finished sixth with 4,904 points and Justin Wright was 10th with 4,337.
UTSA posted a pair of podium finishes on the track.
Vasha Sheriff raced to a runner-up finish in the 400m with a season-best 47.21 clocking, while Patrick Prince crossed third in the 60m hurdles in 7.96.
In the 800m, Zack Kovar and Caleb Devereaux finished third (1:55.73) and fourth (1:55.84), respectively, while Davante Edwards cleared 6-6 ¾ (2.00m) to take fourth in the high jump.
The Roadrunners will return to action next Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 1-2, at the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station.
UTSA Results
60 Meters (Qualifying)
12. Mikael Dawkins 6.95
31. Jayden Bunting 7.19
200 Meters (A Section)
8. Vasha Sheriff 21.77
14. Mikael Dawkins 22.16
29. Jayden Bunting 23.46
200 Meters (B Section)
3. Vasha Sheriff 21.77
4. Mikael Dawkins 22.16
22. Jayden Bunting 23.46
400 Meters (A Section)
2. Vasha Sheriff 47.21
14. Chris Rosales 50.13
31. Jared Taylor 52.88
400 Meters (B Section)
4. Chris Rosales 50.13
19. Jared Taylor 52.88
800 Meters
4. Zack Kovar 1:55.73
5. Caleb Devereaux 1:55.84
12. Cameron Hudson 1:59.67
60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
2. Patrick Prince 7.93
60-Meter Hurdles (Final)
3. Patrick Prince 7.96
4x400-Meter Relay
7. Caleb Devereaux, Zack Kovar, Cameron Hudson, Luca Chatham 3:23.74
Distance Medley Relay
2. Luca Chatham, Zack Kovar, Caleb Devereaux, Monty Bertschy 10:08.06
High Jump
4. Davante Edwards 2.00m (6-6 ¾)
8. Jamal Anderson 1.95m (6-4 ¾)
Shot Put
8. Steven Thomas 14.49m (47-6 ½)
11. Mike Zuniga 13.94m (45-9)
Weight Throw
2. Vincent Perez 18.43m (60-5 ¾)
6. Steven Thomas 17.26m (56-7 ½)
Heptathlon
1. Gary Haasbroek 5,949 points
60 Meters (7.02/875); Long Jump (7.65m [25-1 ¼]/972; Shot Put (11.52m [37-9 ½]/577; High Jump (2.03m [6-8]/831); 60-Meter Hurdles (8.14/947); Pole Vault (5.10m [16-8 ¾]/941); 1,000 Meters (2:46.15/806)
6. Jake McDaniel 4,904 points
60 Meters (7.40/745); Long Jump (6.89m [22-7 ¼]/788); Shot Put (11.32m [37-1 ¾]/565); High Jump (1.94m [6-4 ¼]/749); 60-Meter Hurdles (8.88/772); Pole Vault (3.70m [12-1 ½]/535); 1,000 Meters (2:51.50/750)
10. Justin Wright 4,337 points
60 Meters (7.58/687); Long Jump (5.89m [19-4]/563); Shot Put (9.87m [32-4 ¾]/478); High Jump (1.70m [5-7]/544); 60-Meter Hurdles (8.52/855); Pole Vault (3.60m [11-9 ¾]/509); 1,000 Meters (2:56.27/701)
