SAN ANTONIO — Jake McDaniel won the decathlon with a career performance Friday to highlight action for the UTSA track & field teams at the Roadrunner Invitational at Park West Athletics Complex.
McDaniel entered the second day of the 10-event competition in the lead with 3,595 points. The junior from Houston finished with a personal-best 6,648 points to grab gold ahead of runner-up and freshman teammate Justin Wright, who tallied 6,082 points.
McDaniel started the second day with a 15.79 clocking in the 110-meter hurdles to earn 757 points. The Langham Creek High School product measured 33.86 meters (111-1) in the discus and cleared 3.80m (12-5 ½) in the pole vault before tossing the javelin 50.79m (166-8). He then closed the decathlon with a time of 4:54.25 in the 1,500m to seal the win.
Wright's second day was highlighted by a 15.08 clocking in the 110m hurdles and a clearance of 3.90m (12-9 ½) in the pole vault. The Dripping Springs native also posted a discus throw of 31.01m (101-9) and a javelin throw of 40.26m (132-1) to go along with a time of 5:01.81 in the final event, the 1,500m.
On the women's side, Gabriyella Torres secured silver in the heptathlon with 5,001 points. The senior from Port Isabel came into Friday's action with 3,016 points through the first four events. The reigning Conference USA Indoor pentathlon champion leaped to a windy mark of 5.66m (18-7) — the top distance in the field — in the long jump to start the final day with 747 points. She then threw the javelin to a distance of 32.97m (108-2) and circled the track twice in 2:29.04 in the 800m to close out the seven-event competition.
Chase Whiting finished sixth in the heptathlon with 4,296 points. The junior out of Fredericksburg posted a 5.21m (17-1 ¼) mark in the long jump and a 37.66m (123-7) measurement in the javelin before stopping the clock in 2:46.87 in the 800m.
The field events got underway Friday and UTSA had a pair of throwers register personal bests while placing third.
Maia Campbell recorded a PR in claiming the bronze medal in the hammer throw. The junior from Converse Judson High School heaved the implement to a distance of 53.56m (175-9), shattering her previous personal record of 49.52m (162-6) turned in at last year's Texas State Bobcat Classic.
Campbell nearly matched her career-best in the shot put with a mark of 14.57m (47-9 ¾) to finish fifth. That effort fell just shy of her PR of 14.61m (47-11 ¼) from last week's UTSA Invitational.
Meanwhile, Vincent Perez established a new PR in the hammer throw with a mark of 59.46m (195-1). The senior from San Antonio Marshall High School eclipsed his previous personal best of 58.19m (190-11) registered at the UTSA Invitational one week ago in placing fifth overall and third among collegians in a field with a trio of unattached competitors, including his older brother and UTSA record-holder Victor Perez, who finished second (64.47m).
The final day of the Roadrunner Invitational will start with the field events at 11 a.m., followed by a senior ceremony at 1:30 p.m. and running events at 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
UTSA Results
MEN
Shot Put
10. Steven Thomas 14.72m (48-3 ½)
13. Mike Zuniga 13.79m (45-3)
Hammer Throw
3. (5.) Vincent Perez 59.46m (195-1)
Decathlon
1. Jake McDaniel 6,648 points
100 Meters (11.61/730); Long Jump (6.77m [22-2 ½]/760); Shot Put (10.73m [35-2 ½]/530); High Jump (2.05m [6-8 ¾]/850); 400 Meters (51.99/725); 110-Meter Hurdles (15.79/757); Discus (33.86m [111-1]/541); Pole Vault (3.80m [12-5 ½]/562); Javelin (50.79m [166-8]/600); 1,500 Meters (4:54.25/593)
2. Justin Wright 6,082 points
100 Meters (11.98/655); Long Jump (6.33m [20-9 ¼]/659); Shot Put (10.56m [34-7 ¾]/519); High Jump (1.84m [6-0 ½]/661); 400 Meters (53.07/679); 110-Meter Hurdles (15.08/840); Discus (31.01m [101-9]/484); Pole Vault (3.90m [12-9 ½]/590); Javelin (40.26m [132-1]/446); 1,500 Meters (5:01.81/549)
3. Davante Edwards
100 Meters (11.15/827); High Jump (2.02m [6-7 ½]/822)
WOMEN
Shot Put
5. Maia Campbell 14.57m (47-9 ¾)
14. Cynthia Gonzales 12.16m (39-10 ¾)
19. Brenttany Birdow 11.30m (37-1)
Hammer Throw
3. Maia Campbell 53.56m (175-9)
8. Faith Olszak 46.69m (153-2)
10. Cynthia Gonzales 42.72m (140-2)
Heptathlon
2. Gabriyella Torres 5,001 points
100-Meter Hurdles (14.80/868); High Jump (1.63m [5-4 ¼]/771); Shot Put (11.35m [37-3]/618); 200 Meters (26.44/759); Long Jump (5.66m [18-7]/747); Javelin (32.97m [108-2]/533); 800 Meters (2:29.04/705)
6. Chase Whiting 4,296 points
100-Meter Hurdles (15.05/835); High Jump (1.39m [4-6 ¾]/502); Shot Put (9.54m [31-3 ¾]/499); 200 Meters (26.85/724); Long Jump (5.21m [17-1 ¼]/617); Javelin (37.66m [123-7]/622); 800 Meters (2:46.87/497)
