Track and field fought hard against tough competition Saturday at the Texas Tech Open in Lubbock, moving themselves up in the Southland Conference rankings.
The Wildcats collected four personal records and combined for nine top-five performances among schools such as Southern Methodist University, New Mexico State, Oral Roberts and Oklahoma Baptist.
Among the top performers were senior Shalaina Lakey and sophomore Jelani Rainey, who picked up third-place finishes in the women’s hammer throw and the men’s hammer throw, respectively. Lakey is ranked seventh in the Southland Conference in the hammer.
Daniel Block, junior from Canada, earned fourth place in the men’s 800-meter run with a time 1:53.15. Block has been one of the most reliable runners for the Wildcats and has consistently placed in the top five in his events throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons. Conference rankings show him at third in the Southland in the men’s 1500-meter and sixth in the 800-meter.
Junior Lexus Williams turned in a season-best time of 13.93 in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, finishing fifth overall in the event. Her time ties her at third in the Southland Conference with Stephanie White from Stephen F. Austin.
The men’s 4×100-meter relay team also came in fifth at the Tech Open, running a 40.87 and moving up to fifth in the Southland rankings.
Sophomore Johnathan Farquharson finished sixth and seventh in the men’s 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. His times from Saturday’s meet have placed him second in the Southland in the 100m and fourth in the 200m.
One other standout for the Wildcats on Saturday was senior Aaron Bynum, who turned in three top-six performances in the meet. He earned sixth place in the men’s javelin with 50.94m, fifth in the men’s discus with 50.97m, and fourth in the men’s hammer throw with 45.51m. He’s now ranked fourth in the Southland in the discus, tenth in the hammer and eighth in the javelin.
Sophomore Jeremy Tatham also competed in three events at the Tech Open, but his only top-10 finish came in the men’s triple jump with 14.50m. He is now ranked fifth in the Southland in the triple jump and fourth in the 110-meter hurdles.
Other top performers for the Wildcats in conference play are senior Reyare Thomas, who is ranked first overall in the women’s 200-meter dash, and French transfer Baptiste Kerjean, also ranked first in the men’s hammer. Sophomore Luke Woods is ranked second in the men’s decathlon and sixth in the men’s 110-meter hurdle.
Taylor Yantis is ranked second in the women’s heptathlon, followed closely by teammate Ramesheon Marine, ranked fourth. Freshman Kenzie Walker is ranked sixth in the women’s pole vault, and Amelia Mitchell is fifth in the women’s javelin.
The Wildcats return to action this Saturday in their first home meet of the season, the Wes Kittley Invitational. Events begin at 11 a.m. at Elmer Gray Stadium.
