LUBBOCK, Texas- The Texas A&M-Kingsville track and field program concluded competition at the 2023 Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, with the women's team placing third and scoring 120.5 points, while the men also took third with 136.

The Javelinas claimed championships in six different events thanks to a handful of stellar performances, including junior Katryna Hernandez, who wrapped up a stellar weekend with a gold medal in the shot put, thanks to a 13.85m (45-5.25) heave on her final attempt. Junior Mackenzie Contreras also delivered a podium performance, with a 13.45m (44-1.5) measurement slotting her third.

The men's shot put featured graduate student D.J. Delancy, who used a 18.26m (59-11) toss on his final attempt to climb the leader board into first. Not far behind and securing second, senior Marco Arevalo reached 17.45m (57-3), while junior Garrett Burns placed fourth at 16.13m (52-11) and classmate Paxton Hair fifth at 15.30m (50-2.25).

Later, in the pole vault, sophomore Thomas Nieto was named champion with a 5.31m (17-5) clearance on his first attempt allowing him to surpass Jacobee Jones for the top spot. Junior Reid Barba earned bronze and sophomore Blake Gordon fourth, each recording a 5.01m (16-5.25).

In the women's iteration, senior Ana Garcia and junior Bianca Cardenas finished back-to-back in fifth and sixth, with Garcia clearing 3.32m (10-10.75) and Cardenas 3.17m (10-4.75).

Graduate student Markim Felix performed well in the javelin, picking up silver with a 68.55m (224-11) throw on his third attempt to reach the podium. 

On the track, the women's 4x100m relay squad started things out by placing fifth with freshman Martina Stanchi, junior Bryssa Guzman, freshman Zoe Brown, and classmate Jazmine Miller clocking in at 48.21.

The women's 4x400m relay then dominated with newcomer Melanie Roland, sophomore Vitiana Robert, junior Sophia Ramirez, and sophomore Cynai Christopher finishing in 3:45.06 to take gold.

Individually, Roland and Christopher competed in the open 400m finals, as Roland placed sixth in 55.39 and Christopher seventh at 56.04.

Sophomore Ja'Qualon Scott and junior Gabriel Field shined in the hurdles, with Scott winning both the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles, while Field scored points in both events. Scott completed the 110m hurdles in 13.81 for gold, and Field placed sixth at 14.41. Later in the day, Scott won the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.46, and Field took fifth at 53.90.

The women's hurdlers also succeeded, as sophomore Kennedi Silmon used a time of 14.40 to place fourth in the 100m hurdles, and freshman Amber Gonzalez placed fourth in the 400m hurdles at 1:02.91.

Junior Michael Samihamba picked up a bronze in the 400m dash, clocking in at 46.99, before combining with junior Sterling Riles, classmate Bryson Dyer, and freshman Tony Benitez to place third in the men's 4x400m relay at 3:11.50.

Sophomore Cody Fountain picked up points as well, with a time of 1:54.49 in the 800m run, allowing him to surpass Butare Rugenerwa from West Texas A&M for fourth.

The Buffs claimed the team championship on both sides, with their women scoring 280.50 and their men 228. Meanwhile, Angelo State was the second-place program in both divisions, as the Rams picked up 157 points and the Rambelles 197.

The Javelinas will now send a select set of athletes to Los Angeles, California, to compete at the Azuza Pacific Last Chance Meet as the team looks to improve their marks and receive a selection to the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.