The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Longhorn Invitational
Track and Field sweeps team titles at the Longhorn Invitational
05.03.2014 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Top-ranked women and No. 7 men gear up for the postseason with a number of impressive performances
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Photo Gallery | Video: Longhorns close out regular season | Video: Seniors recognized at Longhorn Invitational
The top-ranked women's Track and Field team and the No. 7 men swept the team titles at Saturday's Longhorn Invitational, the final regular-season meet for the Longhorns.
Texas and Akron finished 1-2 in both the men's and women's standings. The Longhorn men and women each tallied 170 points, while the Zips men posted 129.50 and the women 100. Baylor was third in both standings, with the women totaling 94.50 and the men 86.
The Longhorns warmed up for the postseason with a number of strong individual performances on Senior Day at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Winning the team titles on either side was not the main goal, with the Big 12 Conference Outdoor Championships less than two weeks away and most of the 16 schools in attendance fielding less than full squads. There were also a number of professional and unattached athletes in the field.
"The goal coming in for this final meet prior to conference was just to fine tune," head coach Mario Sategna said. "There were a few people who all they did was contest one event—for some that's all they needed. For a few others, they dropped out of their specialty, for example some of the 400m specialists dropped down to the 200m or even the 100m and the 200m. They put up some tremendous performances."
Sprinters Ashley Spencer, Morolake Akinison and Senoj-Jay Givans each posted two of the top times in the nation, and national leaders and NCAA indoor champions Ryan Crouser (shot put) and Kaitlin Petrillose (pole vault) warmed up for the postseason with solid performances.
Spencer cruised to victory in the 400 meters in 51.41 seconds, the second-best time in the collegiate ranks. Only teammate Courtney Okolo, who clocked a nation's-best 51.36 at last month's Texas Invitational, has run faster collegiately in the 400 during the outdoor season. That was the first 400 of the season for Spencer, the two-time defending NCAA outdoor champion in the event.
A little more than one hour later, Spencer posted the top time - 22.69 - in the collegiate ranks in the 200 meters, though it was aided by a 3.1 meters per second wind. Only Olympic gold medalist Natasha Hastings had a faster time (22.55w), with each running in the opening heat.
"We needed to get a regional mark out of Ashley in the 400 and she achieved that," Sategna said. "She then came back along with the rest of the group in the 200m. They had some national type performances, not just conference level performances."
Morolake Akinosun also had two impressive efforts. She was second in the 100 meters in a wind-aided (+4.0) 11.03, the second-best NCAA qualifying time in the nation. Dezerea Bryant of Kentucky was first in the same heat in 10.96w. Akinosun came into the meet with the top time in the nation – 11.10w. She also clocked a wind-aided 22.80 in the 200 meters, which places her tied for third on the 2014 NCAA performers list.
Givans, a freshman, was the top collegian in both the 100 and 200 meters. He finished third in the 200 meters in a wind-aided (+3.0) time of 20.63. The time ranks No. 22 on the 2014 NCAA performers list and should be good enough to advance him to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in that event. The top 48 marks in the west region advance to the three-day meet (May 29-31) in Fayetteville, Ark.
Givans' time of 10.19w in the 100 meters places him tied for 12th on the 2014 NCAA performers list and tied for seventh in the NCAA West Region.
Two seniors on the men's side also had solid performances. Josh Brudnick finished second in the 400-meter hurdles in a personal-best 51.63. John McNamara was second in the 1500 in career-best time 3:45.43.
Crouser, who leads the nation in the shot put, captured the discus in a personal-best toss of 202 feet (61.58m). He remains No. 8 on the 2014 NCAA performers list in the discus. Crouser did not compete in the shot put.
The women also had wins by Megan Siebert in the 3,000 meters (9:54.09), Alaina Perez in the steeplechase (11:15.66) and Shanay Briscoe in the high jump (5-10/1.78m). Siebert and Briscoe were among the 19 seniors appearing in their final home meet.
Petrillose was second in the pole vault with the clearance of 14-1 1/4 (4.30m), well off her national-leading and school-record mark of 14-9 (4.50m) set at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, but her third performance (of four) of more than 14 feet during the outdoor season.
In other action, Connor Ward and Jessica Harper had career bests in the 1,500 meters and Katie Hoaldridge in the 800. Ward was second in 4:30.01 and Harper fifth in 4:33.06. Hoaldridge was fourth in 2:06.59, which is No. 38 on the 2014 NCAA performers list. Freshman Kendall Baisden clocked 11.33w in the 100 meters and 22.99w in the 200. Those times place Baisden tied for 18th in the 100 and 14th in the 200 on the national collegiate list. She is also fifth on the national 400-meter list (51.71 at the Michael Johnson Dr Pepper Classic).
Courtney Okolo was sixth in the 200 meters, but her time of 23.04 (w3.1) is 16th on the 2014 collegiate performers chart.
The men also had victories from Austin Roth in the steeplechase (9:10.70) and Eduardo Rodriguez in the 3,000 meters (8:45.61).
The Big 12 Conference Outdoor Championships will take place Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18 in Lubbock, Texas.
Longhorn Notes
• Senior Day: The Longhorns recognized 19 seniors (eight men/11 women) prior to the start of the running events. The list of Longhorns who made their final home appearance included Kaitlyn Barry, Shanay Briscoe, Josh Brudnick, Hayden Clark, Danielle Dowie, Chris Galvin, Marielle Hall, Jessica Harper, Katie Hoaldridge, Brittany Marches, John McNamara, Olivia Mickle, Briana Nelson, Austin Roth, Megan Siebert, Collin Smith, John Trucilla, Christy Udoh and Jake Wohlford.
• With Ashley Spencer posting a time of 51.41 in her first outdoor 400-meter debut, the Longhorns now own four of the top nine positions on the 2014 NCAA performers list. Courtney Okolo's time of 51.36 clocked at last month's Texas Invitational leads the nation. Kendall Baisden posted a 51.72 (No. 5) and Briana Nelson a 52.27 (No. 9) at the Michael Johnson Dr Pepper Classic (April 19). Okolo and Spencer's times rank 7-8 on the 2004 IAAF World performers list. Baisden is 15th and Nelson 23rd. Spencer's time is also No. 6 on the UT all-time 400-meter performers list.
• The Longhorns posted four of the top 16 times on this year's women's 200-meter NCAA performers list. Ashley Spencer's time of 22.69w is No. 1, Morolake Akinosun is tied for third with her 22.80w, Kendall Baisden is 14th (22.99w) and Courtney Okolo is 16th with her 23.04w.
• Ryan Crouser's winning toss of 202-0 (61.58m) was not only a personal best, but also the 10th-best performance in school history. Crouser remained No. 4 on the UT all-time performers list. Crouser's previous best was 201-0 (61.27m) at last month's Texas Invitational.
• Kaitlin Petrillose's clearance in the pole vault – 14-1 1/4 (4.30m) – was behind her school record of 14-9 (4.50) set at last month's Texas Invitational, but still ranks No. 4 on the UT all-time performance chart. Petrillose now has six of the top eight performances in school history, including three this season.
TEAM STANDINGS - Longhorn Invitational
Austin, Texas • Mike A. Myers Stadium
Women
1. Texas - 170
2. Akron - 100
3. Baylor - 94.50
4. Kentucky - 76
5. Sam Houston St. - 63
6. Cal St. Northridge - 44
7. Utah - 41
8. Stanford - 35.50
9. North Texas - 35
10. TCU - 26
11. Huston-Tillotson - 6
12. McNeese State - 4
13. Texas-Tyler - 3
Men
1. Texas - 170
2. Akron - 129.50
3. Baylor - 86
4. Sam Houston St. - 78.50
5. North Texas - 72
6. Cal St. Northridge - 50
7. Stanford - 20.50
8. McNeese State - 17
TCU - 17
10. Stephen F. Austin - 16.50
11. Kentucky - 14
12. Huston-Tillotson - 13
13. Colorado - 12
14. Texas-Tyler - 5
TEXAS RESULTS – Longhorn Invitational
Austin, Texas • Mike A. Myers Stadium
Saturday, May 3
Women
• 100 Meters: 2. Morolake Akinosun, 11.03 (w4.0); 6. Kendall Baisden, 11.33 (w2.8); 10. Christy Udoh, 11.49 (w4.0); 13. Briana Nelson, 11.63 (w3.1); 22. Bernice Bamgbade, 11.91 (w2.2); t27. Morgan Snow, 12.12 (w2.8)
• 200 Meters: 2. Ashley Spencer, 22.69 (w3.1); 3. Morolake Akinosun, 22.80 (w3.1); 5. Kendall Baisden, 22.99 (w4.0); 6. Courtney Okolo, 23.04 (w3.1); 7. Christy Udoh, 23.24 (w4.0); 8. Briana Nelson, 23.34 (w2.9); 13. Danielle Dowie, 23.48 (w2.9); 29. Nia Dorner, 24.32 (w2.2); 35. Bernice Bamgbade, 24.40 (w2.2); 47. Shanay Briscoe, 26.61
• 400 Meters: 1. Ashley Spencer, 51.41; 3. Danielle Dowie, 52.56; 11. Nia Dorner, 55.01
• 800 Meters: 4. Katie Hoaldridge, 2:06.59; 7. Mary Beth Hamilton, 2:11.40; 10. Samantha Anderson, 2:13.43
• 1,500 Meters: 2. Connor Ward, 4:30.01; 5. Jessica Harper, 4:33.06; 8. Katie Burford, 4:37.41; 9. Meghan Shea, 4:38.40; 11. Brittany Marches, 4:45.68; 17. Marissa Pekarek 4:56.79; 18. Rachel Harper, 4:58.71; 19. Kaitlyn Barry, 4:59.84; 22. Lauren Fritz, 5:13.21
• 3,000 Meters: 1. Megan Siebert, 9:54.09; 2. Hannah Novelli, 10:30.33; 3. Kaleigh Ervin, 10:36.19
• 100-Meter Hurdles: 2. Morgan Snow, 13.06 (w4.0); 11. Melissa Gonzalez, 13.85; 23. Shanay Briscoe, 14.89 (w3.6)
• 400-Meter Hurdles: 4. Melissa Gonzalez, 59.63; 13. Cody McCrary, 1:06.38
• 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 1. Alaina Perez,11:15.66; 3. Claire Andrews, 11:35.65
• High Jump: 1. Shanay Briscoe, 5-10 (1.78m)
• Pole Vault: 2. Kaitlin Petrillose, 14-1.25 (4.30m); 12. Anne Harwig, 12-1.50 (3.70m); 16. Alyssa Gullo, 12-1.5 (3.70m); t18. Peri Howser, 11-1.75 (3.40m)
• Long Jump: 10. Pamela Uchebo, 18-3/5.56m (w2.8)
• Shot Put: 8. Nekia Jones, 45-9 (13.94m)
Men
• 100 Meters: 4. Senoj-Jay Givans, 10.19 (w3.0); 8. Basil Fares, 10.46 (w2.1); 13. Carlton Anumnu, 10.56 (w2.1); 14. Charles Anumnu, 10.58 (w3.0); 24. Darnell Porter, 10.91
• 200 Meters: 3. Senoj-Jay Givans, 20.63 (w3.0); 6. Zack Bilderback, 20.87 (w3.0); 9. Carlton Anumnu, 21.01 (w2.7); 10. Charles Anumnu, 21.13 (w3.0)
• 400 Meters: 6. Chris Irvin, 47.26; 7. Andrew Whyte, 47.58; -- Pieter Conradie, DNF
• 800 Meters: 4. Robert Uhr, 1:51.55; 7. David Anamosa, 1:53.33
• 1,500 Meters: 2. John McNamara, 3:45.43; 4. Brady Turnbull, 3:49.09; 5. Blake Williams, 3:51.03; -- Mark Pinales, DNF
• 3,000 Meters: 1. Eduardo Rodriguez, 8:45.61
• 110-Meter Hurdles: 4. Spencer Dunkerley-Offor, 13.89 (w2.2); 6. Jake Wohlford, 14.28 (w2.2); 10. Wolf Mahler, 15.00 (w2.8)
• 400-Meter Hurdles: 2. Josh Brudnick, 51.63
• 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 1. Austin Roth, 9:10.70; 4. Collin Smith, 9:38.82
• High Jump: 9. Jordan Larkins, 6-6.75 (2.00m)
• Pole Vault: t4. Reese Watson, 17-6.50 (5.35m); t11. Hayden Clark, 16-6.75 (5.05m); -- Casey Wicker, NH
• Long Jump: 6. Basil Fares, 23-5.25 (7.14m); 12. Johannes Hock, 22-6.50 (6.78m); 16. Wolf Mahler, 21-4.75 (6.52m)
• Shot Put: 2. Will Spence, 59-11.25 (18.27m); 11. Wolf Mahler, 36-5.75 (11.12m)
• Discus: 1. Ryan Crouser, 202-0 (61.58m); 3. Will Spence, 192-3 (58.61m); 6. Blake Jakobsson, 178-6 (54.40m)
• Javelin: 9. John Trucilla, 171-10 (52.38m)
