COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Saturday wrapped up competition for the UTSA track and field teams at E.B. Cushing Stadium on the final day of 44 Farms Team Invitational. The Roadrunners produced a pair of medals in the expansive 31-team field, with O.J. Ruiz and Mia Lien picking up hardware to lead the Roadrunners.
Making the final UTSA men’s performance the top finisher, Ruiz produced a career mark of 9:30.93 in the 3,000m steeplechase, putting the Eagle Pass, Texas senior in position for the second-place finish. In addition, freshman Diego Ramirez finished in fifth in the event on a time of 9:49.01. On the women’s side for the final UTSA event of the meet, senior Brooke Veltman ran a 12:32.89 to finish in 10th place for her first career 3,000m steeplechase.
Getting the day’s competition underway, Lien (Jakobsli, Norway) used Friday’s heptathlon momentum to finish strong on Saturday, moving from fourth to third with a second-place long jump section (6.30m/20-8) and a third-place 800m (2:14.71) finish. Earning the bronze, Lien racked up 5,741 points for the program’s second-best all-time score – falling just 77 points shy of Ryanne Dupree’s 2007 record. Lien also won the high jump section with a school record 1.83m (6-0) on Friday and was sixth in the 200m at 24.86.
Kicking off Saturday’s running events, the quartet of Leah Smith, Ibiso David-West, Thennelle Williams and Ida Breigan finished in sixth place of the women’s 4x100m relay with a 45.20 clocking, registering the second-fastest time in the event in UTSA history.
With the 44 Farms Invitational complete, the next trip will send the Roadrunners out west for the 65th Annual Mt. SAC Relays, held in Walnut, California, April 16-19.
- UTSA -