HOUSTON — Vasha Sheriff won the men's 400 meters and helped lead the 4x400-meter relay team to gold to pace 17 podium finishes for the UTSA track and field teams on Saturday at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight.
Sheriff raced to a 46.94 clocking on Wendel D. Ley Track to cross first in his section of the 400m. The senior's season-best time ended up as the fastest among six sections and 38 competitors.
Sheriff, who hails from Amarillo, also ran the second leg on the winning 4x400m relay squad, as he joined Chris Rosales, Luca Chatham and Andrew Pirog to clock a season-best time of 3:14.08 and nip runner-up Prairie View A&M (3:14.20) at the finish line.
The men ended up with 12 total top-three finishes on the day, including a runner-up showing by the other relay team that was in action. Davante Edwards, Mikael Dawkins, Kaleb Campbell and Jared Taylor passed the baton to a time of 40.67 for the silver.
Chatham raced to a runner-up effort in the 800m, as the senior from Dallas circled the oval twice in a time of 1:50.11 for third overall in a race won by Robert Downs (unattached) in 1:48.42.
Pirog was the second collegiate competitor to cross in the 400m hurdles, as the junior from San Antonio Reagan High School clocked a new season-best time of 52.45 for third overall.
In the field, three Roadrunners cleared 2.00 meters (6-6 ¾) in the high jump. Jamal Anderson and Edwards finished in a tie for second, while Jake McDaniel was fourth based on misses.
Meanwhile, Steven Thomas and Mike Zuniga finished 2-3 in the shot put. Thomas posted a personal-best mark of 15.94m (52-3 ¾) for the silver medal and Zuniga grabbed the bronze with a season-long measurement of 15.15m (49-8 ½).
Thomas also had a podium finish in the hammer with a third-place throw of 54.99m (180-5) — also a new PR — while McDaniel took third in the javelin with a heave of 53.25m (174-8).
Gary Haasbroek was second among collegians and fifth overall in the long jump, as the freshman from Australia measured 7.23m (23-8 ¾), just one centimeter shy of his season best.
The women tallied five top-three finishes, led by a trio of runner-up performances.
Olivia Esemena won her section of the 200m with a career-best 24.33 clocking. That time placed the junior from Arlington third overall and second among collegians in a race won by Rice's Hannah Jackson (23.42).
Darionne Gibson was the second runner to cross in the 400m, as the junior from Converse Judson High School clocked a 55.16 for the silver behind UTRGV's Ashley Hughes (54.04).
In the field, Caroline Bellows collected a silver in the pole vault with a clearance of 3.72m (12-2 ½). The senior from George West, who won the event at last week's Texas A&M Invitational with a PR 3.88m vault, skied over the bar at 3.72m on her first try before bowing out on the next height.
Lacee Barnes was fourth overall and third among collegians in the discus, as the sophomore measured 44.77m (146-10) on her first of six throws.
Meanwhile, Chase Whiting was third in the javelin with a toss of 37.40m (122-8).
The Roadrunners will return to action next Saturday, April 27, at the Alumni Muster in College Station.
UTSA Results
Men
100 Meters
5. Mikael Dawkins 10.75
200 Meters
4. Jared Taylor 21.98
400 Meters
1. Vasha Sheriff 46.94
5. Chris Rosales 48.45
800 Meters
2. Luca Chatham 1:50.11
6. Zack Kovar 1:53.32
16. Cameron Hudson 1:57.47
1,500 Meters
5. Monty Bertschy 4:00.92
5,000 Meters
8. Josh Rodriguez 15:24.21
110-Meter Hurdles
4. Gary Haasbroek 14.87
7. Justin Wright 15.23
8. Devall Harris 15.42
400-Meter Hurdles
2. Andrew Pirog 52.45
5. Justin Gerbrecht 53.58
7. Jonathan Boozer 54.29
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
15. Omar Bekdache 10:05.93
4x100-Meter Relay
2. Davante Edwards, Mikael Dawkins, Kaleb Campbell, Jared Taylor 40.67
4x400-Meter Relay
1. Chris Rosales, Vasha Sheriff, Luca Chatham, Andrew Pirog 3:14.08
9. "B" Jonathan Boozer, Cameron Hudson, Devall Harris, Zack Kovar 3:23.69
High Jump
2. Jamal Anderson 2.00m (6-6 ¾)
2. Davante Edwards 2.00m (6-6 ¾)
4. Jake McDaniel 2.00m (6-6 ¾)
Pole Vault
9. Karney Linch 4.49m (14-8 ¾)
Long Jump
2. Gary Haasbroek 7.23m (23-8 ¾)
4. Jake McDaniel 7.03m (23-0 ¾)
Shot Put
2. Steven Thomas 15.94m (52-3 ¾)
3. Mike Zuniga 15.15m (49-8 ½)
18. Justin Wright 10.65m (34-11 ¼)
Discus
4. Vincent Perez 47.26m (155-1)
5. Steven Thomas 47.24m (155-0)
12. Ronald Lozano 40.33m (132-4)
19. Mike Zuniga 36.10m (118-5)
Hammer Throw
3. Steven Thomas 54.99m (180-5)
4. Vincent Perez 54.87m (180-0)
Javelin
3. Jake McDaniel 53.25m (174-8)
Women
100 Meters
5. Sydney Howells 12.34
200 Meters
2. Olivia Esemena 24.33
6. Vera Chinedu 25.07
23. Briana Washington 27.02
400 Meters
2. Darionne Gibson 55.16
5. Sierra Andres 56.58
9. Erin Wilson 57.43
800 Meters
4. Brooke Lomax 2:17.10
1,500 Meters
13. Rian Rodriguez 4:55.25
5,000 Meters
4. Gabby Gonzales 18:09.11
100-Meter Hurdles
11. Gabriyella Torres 15.51
14. Chase Whiting 15.73
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
7. Briana Gonzalez 12:00.81
4x100-Meter Relay
4. Danielle Spence, Vera Chinedu, Olivia Esemena, Sydney Howells 48.21
Pole Vault
2. Caroline Bellows 3.72m (12-2 ½)
Long Jump
6. Gabriyella Torres 5.51m (18-1)
Shot Put
4. Maia Campbell 14.38m (47-2 ¼)
5. Lacee Barnes 13.92m (45-8)
11. Cynthia Gonzales 12.16m (39-10 ¾)
12. Brenttany Birdow 12.05m (39-6 ½)
Discus
3. Lacee Barnes 44.77m (146-10)
Hammer Throw
6. Faith Olszak 49.15m (161-3)
16. Cynthia Gonzales 42.99m (141-0)
20. Brenttany Birdow 40.30m (132-3)
Javelin
3. Chase Whiting 37.40m (122-8)
