The Wildcat’s track and field team traveled to Lubbock over the weekend to compete in the Texas Tech Open. Senior Chloe Susset was a standout as she captured first place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, one of three ACU wins from Lubbock.
“Texas Tech was a good meet to improve performances or step into a new one like I did,” Susset said. “The weather was great and that is one of the reasons why the competition was better than we could imagine for Lubbock and its usual strong wind.”
Susset finished with 10:48 time, nearly a minute ahead of the rest of the competition, and twenty four seconds off her best time in the steeplechase(10:24).
Her time currently ranks seventh among all NCAA D-II schools.
“It is always stressful to run the first steeple of the season but as soon as I cleared my first water jump ‘cleanly’, I got all my confidence back,” Susset said.
Seniors Shalania Lakey and Baptiste Kerjean also did well, as they excelled in the hammer throw.
Lakey and her teammate sophomore Lauren Hardwick finished first and second for the second straight week with distances of 164 feet – 5 inches (50.11 meters) and 154-6 (47.10m), respectively.
Kerjean won for the second time in three tries behind a top effort of 198-0 (60.35m).
“We had some great placement performances at Texas Tech,” Coach Jerrod Cook said. “I was very pleased with the meet overall, especially after a tough week of training.”
Senior Shennae Steele finished sixth in the 200-meter run with a 24.42 sec. time and finished seventh in the 400-meter with a 56.72 time.
Senior Ayesha Rumble was fourth in the 800-meter run, finishing with a 2:11 time.
Freshman Xavier King finished sixth in the 1500-meter run with a 3:58 time.
Freshman Andrew Hudson was third in the discus throw with a 170-3/51.90m throw. Hudson and fellow freshman Jelani Rainey finished third and fifth respectively in the hammer throw.
Hudson had a 159-1/48.48m throw, while Rainey had a 169-0/51.51m throw.
“Every week we are making strides and improving overall as a team,” Cook said. “There is a ton of talent out here and everyone is working hard to reach their potential and their goals as individuals as well as our goals to leave Division II as conference and national champions.”
The Wildcats return to the panhandle next week for the West Texas A&M Open and Multi in Canyon.
