MARYVILLE, Mo.- The Texas A&M-Kingsville track and field program completed the second day of competition at the 2023 Bearcat Invitational on Friday, with five student-athletes claiming first at the Hughes Fieldhouse. 

Among the champions was graduate student Dean Wallace who maintained first throughout the heptathlon, cruising to victory with a score of 5,141. He achieved a height of 1.76m (5-09.25) in the high jump to open the day before clocking in at 8.74 in the 60m hurdles. Wallace later cleared a height of 4.66m (15-03.50) in the pole vault and completed the 1000m run in 3:00.41 to cement his spot atop the podium.

The tandem of sophomore Nathan Melton and junior Roel De Leon finished just behind Wallace in third and fourth, with Melton scoring 4,619 and De Leon 4,511. 

Sophomore Thomas Nieto bested all competitors in the pole vault setting a new meet record with a 5.15m (16-10.75) clearance in the pole vault. Meanwhile, junior Reid Barba placed fourth in the event at 4.75m (15-07), and sophomore Blake Gordon claimed fifth at 4.60m (15-01). 

Logging an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark, junior Katryna Hernandez was excellent in the shot put, winning the event and placing herself 13th in the nation at 14.30m (46-11). 

TAMUK also succeeded in the men's iteration of the shot put as graduate student D.J. Delancy and senior Marco Arevalo finished back-to-back, with Delancy at first at 16.63m (54-06.75) and Arevalo second after a 16.40m (53-09.75) toss.

Over on the track, sophomore Ja'Qualon Scott sprinted his way to first in the 200m dash with a time of 21.70, as junior Michael Samihamba clocked in at 22.20 for fifth. The women's race saw freshman Melanie Roland place seventh in 25.77, and sophomore Vitiana Robert take ninth at 26.06. 

Competition at the Bearcat Invitational concludes on Saturday, with events beginning at 11 a.m. with the women's pole vault, while things on the track start at noon with the 60m hurdles. 

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