The Texas Tech Invitational was a weekend for the books for ACU’s track and field athletes.
“I think we had a very good meet on Saturday,” said Head Coach Roosevelt Lofton. “The weather was very good, so our athletes performed well.”
Two athletes, in particular, had outstanding performances.
For the women’s team, Paige Newby had an NCAA automatic qualifying throw in discus, of 157-2. This performance also makes her the No. 1 discus thrower in Division II.
On the men’s side, Amos Sang ran an automatic time in the 10,000-meter of 29 minutes, 15.58 seconds. His time ranks him first among all Division II athletes, as well.
The ACU men’s and women’s track and field teams are each ranked in the top 10 in the first rankings of the season by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association, released late Tuesday. The women’s team is ranked No. 3 in the country, while the men’s team is ranked No. 9 in the nation.
This Thursday, Friday and Saturday, three of the track and field athletes will participate in the Mt. SAC relays – Anais Belledant and Chloe Susset for the women and Amos Sang for the men.
“This is going to be a great weekend and opportunity, and I’m excited to be competing with such distinguished athletes,” said freshman Chloe Susset.
This annual event, which takes place in April, attracts around 15,000 athletes from more than 150 colleges and universities and 150 high schools throughout the U.S. and abroad. Dubbed “where the world’s best athletes compete!” the Mt. SAC Relays has showcased many Olympians throughout its history since the first event in 1959.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team will be going to the Michael Johnson Classic at Baylor University in Waco.
Texas Tech Invitational Results:
Women
Kim Prather – provisional qualifier in the 400, 55.46
Wanda Hutson – provisional qualifier in the 200, 24.26
Men
Cleophas Tanui – provisional qualifier in the 5,000, 14:36.14
Kevin Johnson, Desmond Jackson, Jordan Geary and Ramon Sparks – provisional qualifers in the 4×100 relay, 41.22
Tyler Fleet – provisional qualifier in the discus,168-6, and the hammer, 182-0
James Hardin – competed at the David Noble Invitational at Angelo State, where he score 6,699 points in the decathlon, a provisional qualifying time
