SAN ANGELO, Texas – Kaina Martinez came into the Angelo State Relays at LeGrand Stadium on Thursday with the top time in the Lone Star Conference in the 100m dash but just shy of hitting the provisional qualifying mark. She left the meet not only still holding the best time in the conference but a new school record and a ticket to the NCAA Championships as well. As a team, Texas A&M-Kingsville track and field teams both finished fourth with 145.5 points for the men and the women totaling 98.5 points.
Taking the team titles were Texas A&M-Commerce on the men's side with 202.5 points and Angelo State's women after compiling 267 points.
Martinez started her day by posting the fastest time in the preliminary round in 11.74. She decided to kick it up a notch in the finals with a blistering 11.47. Her finals' time set a new school record that was previously held by LaShawndra Ratcliff since 2004.
Also coming away with an automatic mark was
Jeron Robinson in the men's high jump. He cleared a height of 7-2.5 (2.20m), the best in the nation, to win the event.
While already making sure he is going to the national championships in May last weekend at the Texas Relays,
Javier Lopez took back the best time in Division II and the league in the 110m hurdles. He crossed the finish line in the finals first with a meet record time of 13.77, the second best in school history.
Courtney Macon finished third in the fastest hurdles race and lowered his provisional qualifying time to 14.27 in the prelims. His time ranks ninth in Division II.
In the quickest race of the day,
Deon Hope and
Lutalo Boyce crossed the line second and third, respectively, in the finals. Both posted provisional qualifying times with Hope coming in at 10.42 and Boyce recording a time of 10.51.
Jordan Yamoah is now second in the nation after a clearance of 16-8.75 (5.10m) in the pole vault. He won the event by seven and a half inches over Texas A&M-Commerce's Matt Rich. Also for the Blue and Gold,
Bryce Martin (15-1.5; 4.61m) was sixth and
Drew Hill (14-1.75; 4.31m) tied for eighth in the contest.
The javelin throw title was taken by
Javan Gray with a season best toss of 209-7 (63.89m) to increase his provisional distance by nearly two feet. He was also third in the shot put (50-0.75; 15.26m) and sixth in the discus throw (155-5; 47.37m).
Rounding out the individual provisional qualifying marks for the men were
Richard Cervantes and
Derek Tesch in the discus. Tesch won the event with a throw of 165-10 (50.55m) and Cervantes was the runner-up at 165-2 (50.35m).
The squad of
Darnelle Mickens, Boyce, Hope and Lopez took first in the 4x100m relay. Their time of 40.91 is the best in the LSC and a surpassed the provisional minimum.
Valerie Vrana won the women's shot put for the fourth consecutive outdoor meet and increased her provisional mark to a career best 46-10.25 (14.28m). She was also seventh in the discus at 125-7 (38.29m).
Amber Perry easily won the 400m dash in a provisional time of 54.87 while teammate
Kathy Trevino came in second in 56.22. In the high jump, Perry cleared 4-11.5 (1.51m) to tie for sixth.
For the third straight meet, the foursome of
Jasmine Miller, Martinez, Perry and Trevino set a new school record in the 4x400m relay. This time they combined to finish in a nation's best 3:41.99 on their way to winning the event.
Cheyanne Nalle came away with her first career title in the hammer throw that landed at 153-8 (46.84m).
Two other runner-up finishes were recorded by the women.
Chelsea Gonzales took the silver in the 3000m steeplechase (13:10.06) and the team of
Carnisha Simpson, Martinez, Miller and Trevino did so the in the 4x100m relay (47.21).
Coming in fifth in the 100m hurdles with a personal best time of 15.36 was
Tarah Aliceaacosta. She was also seventh in the long jump in 16-5.76 (5.02m) while fellow Javelina
Aricela Alvarez (17-8.25; 5.39m) was fourth in the event.
Rounding out the scoring on the women's side was Miller with a fifth place finish in the 100m (12.38),
Mariah Noyola came in sixth in the 800m (2:33.59) and
Molly Martinez placed seventh in the triple jump (35-9.5; 10.91m).
For the men in the field events, Tesch was third in the hammer at 169-4 (51.62m) while
Kenny Zamorano's toss of 151-5 (46.16m) came in seventh. Cervantes added a fifth place finish in the shot put at 49-6.25 (15.09m).
In his first individual race of the outdoor season,
Michal Idziak just missed the provisional qualifying mark in the 800m run as he finished third in a time of 1:52.96.
Francisco Solis crossed the line directly behind him in 1:53.79.
Mickens added four points for TAMUK by coming in fifth in the 200m (21.95).
Damian Feeney completed the 300m steeplechase in 11:08.37 for third place.
The foursome of
Luis Gonzalez, Idziak, Lopez and Solis went crossed the line with a time of 3:16.57 to finish fourth in the 4x400m relay.
Next weekend the Blue and Gold make the short trip to Corpus Christi for the Islander Dash on April 11.
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