Houston- On Friday, the Texas A&M-Kingsville track and field program competed for the first time in 2023 as sophomore Thomas Nieto and graduate student Stephen Cardenas each logged a first-place finish at the Houston Leonard Hilton Invitational inside the Yeoman Fieldhouse. 

Nieto was crowned champion in the pole vault thanks to a 5.21m (17-01) clearance on his second attempt that resulted in a new season-best and the seventh-highest mark in the Texas A&M-Kingsville record books. Nieto was joined by junior Reid Barba and sophomore Blake Gordon in the event, with Barba taking third at 4.76m (15-07.25) and Gordon fourth at 4.61m (15-01.50). Additionally, sophomore Nathan Melton and senior Roel De Leon tied for sixth in the vault, each reaching 4.01m (13-01.75).

Meanwhile, in the women's pole vault, juniors Bianca Cardenas and Ana Garcia finished back-to-back as Cardenas achieved a height of 3.25m (10-08) and Garcia 2.80m (9-02.25).

Stephen Cardenas heaved the implement 17.48m (57-04.25) on his fifth throw to cement his spot atop the podium in the weight throw. Junior Paxton Hair made his Blue and Gold debut in the competition, reaching 15.42m (50-07.25) to claim fifth. 

Hair and Cardenas weren't the only throwers to find success in the Space City as graduate student D.J. Delancy and senior Marco Arevalo each recorded a top-five finish in the shot put. Delancy took second with a 17.15m (56-03.25) toss, and Arevalo claimed fourth at 16.69m (54-09.25). 

The women's iteration saw juniors Katryna Hernandez and Mackenzie Contreras finish in order as Hernandez placed sixth at 12.58m (41-03.26) and Contreras seventh with a 12.24m (40-02) heave. 

Freshman Madison Ramos wrapped up the field events with a fourth-place finish in the high jump, with the newcomer clearing 1.55m (5-01)

On the track, sophomore Cody Fountain secured silver in the mile with a time of 4:21.06 and now sits second on the TAMUK all-time performance list. Fountain was narrowly bested by Bryan Mileski of Sam Houston State en route to the personal best. 

Fountain later teamed up with juniors Gabriel Field. Michael Samihamba and Ja'Qualon Scott in the men's 4x400m relay as the squad clocked in at 3:21.55 and placed sixth amongst nine NCAA Division I teams. Samihamba and Scott also excelled in individual events, with Samihamba taking 11th in the 200 m dash at 22.63 and Scott fourth in the 60 m hurdles at 8.05.

In the women's 4x400m relay, Ramos teamed up with sophomores Cynai Christopher, Vitiana Robert, and junior Sophia Ramirez to secure seventh at 4:01.71. Independently, Christopher took 11th in the open 400 m with a time of 58.67.

The Javelinas will return to the Yeoman Fieldhouse for a pair of meets, including the Robert Platt Invitational on Friday, Jan. 20, and the FasTrak Athletix Collegiate Opener Saturday in Houston. 

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