COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Wins by Bashiru Abdullahi and Grant Szalek highlighted action for the UTSA track & field teams on Saturday at the Charlie Thomas Invitational at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.
Abdullahi cruised to the gold medal in the men's 60-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 7.80 seconds to edge Cincinnati's Arthur Greenlee IV (7.85) and TCU's Rainey Anderson (8.08). The sophomore transfer's time matched his own school record set last weekend at the Houston G5-Super 22 Invitational, which earned him Conference USA Male Track Athlete of the Week honors.
Szalek took top honors in a closely-contested men's high jump competition. The junior transfer and a pair of Texas A&M jumpers all cleared 2.04 meters (6-8 3/4) on their first attempt, but Szalek won by virtue of topping his opening height of 1.99m (6-6 1/4) on his first try. His winning height marked a season best for the Perth, Australia, native.
Meanwhile, Maia Campbell continued her strong indoor campaign in the throwing events with a pair of fourth-place finishes to headline action for the women.
Campbell opened her day by eclipsing her own school record in the shot put, measuring 15.12m (49-7.25). The Converse Judson High School product previously broke a three-year-old UTSA standard with a 15.06m effort at the FasTrak Collegiate Invitational two weeks ago in Houston.
Later in the afternoon, Campbell also turned in a personal best in the weight throw with a mark of 18.46m (60-6 3/4). That measurement moved the senior into the No. 3 spot on UTSA's all-time performers list in the event.
Freshmen Paul Bouey and Jorge Ayala shined in the shot put for the men. Bouey, a native of Chile, placed third with a mark of 16.11m (52-10 1/4), while Ayala, who hails from Edinburg,, took fifth with a 15.74m (51-7 3/4) effort.
Taylor Armstrong clocked the best 200m time of her young collegiate career with a 24.50 to move into the No. 3 spot on the program's all-time performers list. The freshman from DeSoto took 12th place in an event that saw 20 sprinters break 25 seconds.
Olivia Esemena also posted a personal best on the track, as the senior from Arlington raced to a time of 7.53 to finish sixth in the 60m. That time bettered her previous PR of 7.54 posted at last year's C-USA Indoor Championships.
UTSA received a pair of eighth-place finishes in the 800m, as Brooke Lomax clocked a 2:15.81 for the women and Zack Kovar crossed in 1:54.75 for the men.
In the field, Natasha Purchas moved into the No. 5 spot on UTSA's all-time performers list in the pole vault with a clearance of 3.53m (11-7), good for 13th place.
On Friday night, UTSA's distance medley relay team of Sofia Salinas, Maisey Snaith, Lomax and Amber Boyd placed eighth with a time of 12:11.34.
The Roadrunners are scheduled to return to action on Feb. 22-23 when they travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the C-USA Indoor Championships.
UTSA Results
Men
60 Meters (prelims)
12. Kaleb Campbell 6.96
14. Jared Taylor 7.00
400 Meters
34. Jonathan Boozer 50.91
800 Meters
8. Zack Kovar 1:54.75
17. Cameron Hudson 1:57.09
Mile
27. JD Corona 4:34.30
3,000 Meters
19. Matthew David 8:59.98
60-Meter Hurdles (prelims)
1. Bashiru Abdullahi 7.91Q
60-Meter Hurdles (final)
1. Bashiru Abdullahi 7.80
High Jump
1. Grant Szalek 2.04m (6-8.25)
9. Jamal Anderson 1.94m (6-4.25)
Shot Put
3. Paul Bouey 16.11m (52-10.25)
5. Jorge Ayala 15.74m (51-7.75)
10. Angel Robles 14.67m (48-1.75)
15. Mike Zuniga 13.51m (44-4)
Women
60 Meters (prelims)
6. Olivia Esemena 7.56Q
11. Vera Chinedu 7.63
60 Meters (final)
6. Olivia Esemena 7.53
200 Meters
12. Taylor Armstrong 24.50
22. Vera Chinedu 25.02
400 Meters
27. Mackenzie Grimes 1:03.18
800 Meters
8. Brooke Lomax 2:15.81
15. Sofia Salinas 2:17.22
Mile
15. Amber Boyd 5:00.36
32. Sarah Estrada 5:29.99
3,000 Meters
24. Gabby Gonzales 10:47.58
26. Briana Gonzalez 10:48.35
Distance Medley Relay
8. UTSA (Sofia Salinas, Maisey Snaith, Brooke Lomax, Amber Boyd) 12:11.34
Pole Vault
13. Natasha Purchas 3.53m (11-7)
Shot Put
4. Maia Campbell 15.12m (49-7.25)
13. Cynthia Gonzales 11.92m (39-1.25)
17. Brenttany Birdow 11.40m (37-5)
Weight Throw
4. Maia Campbell 18.46m (60-6.75)
15. Cynthia Gonzales 13.76m (45-1.75)
-UTSA-
