Jose Montoya

Men's Track and Field 2/18/2023 10:48:00 PM Ryan Smith, Athletic Communications Coordinator

Nieto crowned LSC Indoor Track and Field Pole Vault Champion

Sophomore Thomas Nieto now ranks fifth all-time on the NCAA Division II leader board

LUBBOCK, Texas.- The Texas A&M-Kingsville track and field program wrapped up Day One at the 2023 Lone Star Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships with sophomore Thomas Nieto finishing atop the podium in the pole vault while logging the fifth-best mark on the NCAA Division II all-time leader board,

Nieto cleared 5.43m (17-9.75) on his third attempt for the second-best mark in Javelina's history while cementing himself as one of the best pole vaulters in the history of DII. The Columbian was one of several point scorers in the event, as sophomore Blake Gordon, junior Reid Barba, and graduate student Dean Wallace collected third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. Also vaulting, sophomore Nathan Melton finished six, for 27.5 Blue and Gold points from the competition.

Wallace also placed third in the long jump, using a 6.96m (22-10) leap on his second attempt to reach the podium, with freshman Fakhreddine Benhadja right behind in fourth at 6.85m (22-5.75) and senior Jordan Wilson in eighth at 6.52m (21-4.75). Benhadja later logged a bronze finish in the high jump with a 2.00m (6-6.75) clearance on his third attempt.

The busy day for Wallace also saw him conclude Day One of the heptathlon with a score of 3,013, slotting him third through four events.

Meanwhile, junior Jezell Shows put the women's team on the board in the pentathlon with an eighth-place finish, scoring 2,940.

The women's team's success continued, with senior Diana Bustos and Andrea Jimenez logging third and fifth in the weight throw, as Bustos reached 14.95m (49-0.75) on her first toss and Jimenez 14.15m (46-5.25) on her final attempt.

The men's iteration of the weight throw featured graduate student Stephen Cardenas who collected fifth at 17.28m (56-8.50), and sophomore Paxton Hair seventh, thanks to a 15.85m (52-0) attempt.

Junior Bianca Cardenas wrapped up the day's field events with a sixth-place finish in the women's pole vault reaching 3.36m (11-0.25).

The day concluded on the track, with the men's distance medley relay team placing eighth. Freshman Daniel Perez, junior Sterling Riles, freshman Sean Huff, and sophomore Cody Fountain clocked in at 11:06.67 to pick up the final point.

Heading into day two and through six events, the men's team currently maintains second at 52.5 points, while the women sit fifth with 13.5. West Texas A&M holds the lead for both the men and women, with their men's team scoring 85 and their women's 68.5.

Day two will begin at 10:30 a.m., with Wallace kick-starting the back end of the heptathlon.

To keep up-to-date with Javelina track and field, follow the program on Facebook at /JavelinaSports, Twitter @JavelinaTFXC, and on Instagram @JavelinaTFXC

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