The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Longhorn Invitational
05.02.2015 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Multiple Longhorns make mark on national scene Saturday
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AUSTIN, Texas – It was an impressive showing for the Texas Track and Field team on Saturday at the Longhorn Invitational. In their final tune-up before Big 12 Conference Championships, the Longhorns won three men's events and four women's while posting some of the best marks in the nation in the process.
The meet was highlighted by a record-breaking performance by Shawn Barber of Akron in the men's elite pole vault, but it was Kendall Baisden, Spencer Dunkerley-Offor, Morgan Snow, Reese Watson and Kaitlin Petrillose who put their names among those in the hunt come June in Eugene, Oregon.
That group of Longhorns all posted marks that rank among the top 10 in the NCAA so far this year, including three in the top five.
Baisden came away with a win in the 100 meters and finished second in the 200 while Dunkerley-Offor won his primary event. Watson and Petrillose both posted season-bests against athletes ranked No. 1 in the pole vault. And Snow ran 13 seconds flat to move into contention and win in back-to-back weeks.
Texas won both the men's and women's team competitions with the Longhorn Invitational being a scored meet. The women won handily with 157 points. Akron was second with just 76 points. The Texas men won in a close battle with Akron, 129-121. Florida State also cracked 100 points for the men, finishing third with 106.
The Longhorns are off next week as they prepare for the Big 12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Ames, Iowa, set for May 15-17 and hosted by Iowa State.
It's an absolutely beautiful day for a track meet! Come on out to Myers Stadium. Free admission. #LonghornInvite pic.twitter.com/vR7ImpMZaz
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) May 2, 2015Watson soars high in elite field
Pole vaulter Reese Watson was up against three of the best vaulters in the world on Saturday evening in the elite section of the pole vault of the Longhorn Invitational. With Olympians Brad Walker and Steve Lewis in the field along with indoor collegiate record holder Shawn Barber of Akron competing, it was the best pole vault field of the weekend.
Watson cleared 5.60 meters (18-4.50) for a new personal best and to rank third in school history. His mark is No. 4 in the NCAA this season and helps solidify him as a contender to score at the NCAA Championships in June.
Barber proved to be the top vaulter again on Saturday as he cleared 5.91 meters (19-4.75) to improve on his Mike A. Myers Stadium and Canadian records set earlier this year at the Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
Walker finished second at 5.70 meters (18-8.25) and Lewis was fourth at 5.50 meters (18-0.50. Walker is the American record holder and Lewis currently holds the British record indoors.
"We had a great day in pole vault," Satgena said. "In addition to Reese in the elite vault, we had personal bests from Parks McNeil and Casey Wicker. On the women's side, it was great to see Kaitlin Petrillose jump over 14 feet again against very stiff competition. Our freshmen also all jumped very well."
Dunkerley-Offor ranks No. 2 in the nation
Longhorn sophomore Spencer Dunkerley-Offor ran a wind-aided 13.54 in the 110m hurdles to win the Longhorn Invitational. The first-place time ranks him No. 2 in the nation so far this season, behind 60m hurdle indoor champion, Omar McLeod from Arkansas.
Dunkerley-Offor backed that performance up with a debut in the 400 meters hurdles. He ran 53.13 seconds to finish fourth in the event. His run ranks him eighth in the Big 12 and makes him a threat to score points in both events at the conference championship meet in two weeks.
"It was a very impressive double from Spencer to run a lifetime best and then come back in the 400 hurdles and run 53-low," Sategna said. "That again gives us some great range at the conference meet."
Update 110mH: Spencer Dunkerley-Offor's time of 13.54 is No. 2 in the NCAA this season! Wind-aided but counts toward NCAA seeding. #HookEm
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) May 2, 2015Women's vaulters post impressive performances
With a number of All-Americans, professionals and a collegiate record holder in the field, the Texas women's pole vaulters put together their best weekend of the season.
Kaitlin Petrillose finished third behind Stephen F. Austin's Demi Payne and Tori Pena of Ireland. Petrillose cleared a season-best 4.36 meters (14-3.50) and moved among the leaders in the NCAA. Her mark is No. 5 on the descending order list and tops in the Big 12 Conference. Payne broke the collegiate record last week at Drake Relays.
Petrillose was not the only Longhorn to perform well on Saturday.
Kally Long improved on her personal record by one centimeter to 4.16 meters (13-7.75). Fellow freshman Calie Spencer also PR'd at 4.06 meters (13-3.75) to rank as the No. 5 Longhorn in school history. Anne Harwig also cleared a personal best height of 3.91 meters (12-10.00).
With those clearances, the Longhorns have five of the top 10 women's vaulters in the Big 12 Conference heading into the championship meet in two weeks with Shay Petty clearing 4.05 earlier this year.
Texas hurdlers lead the pack
Senior Morgan Snow won the 100m hurdles, clocking in with a season-best 13.00 at the Longhorn Invitational. It marks back-to-back wins for Snow after she ran 13.13 to claim victory at the Penn Relays.
Snow was joined by another Longhorn, BJ Adeokun, who finished second with a personal best time of 13.29 seconds. Snow now ranks eighth in the NCAA this season.
Morgan Snow runs 13.00 in 100m Hurdles. Wind legal! She is now No. 8 in the NCAA this season. BJ Adeokun 13.29. #LonghornInvite #HookEm
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) May 2, 2015Baisden shows range
Sophomore Kendall Baisden is already considered one of the top 400 meter runners in the nation. On Saturday she proved she can run the short sprints as well winning the 100 meters and finishing second in the 200.
Baisden crossed the line in a wind-aided 11.12 seconds to win the 100 easily. She followed that up with a second-place finish in the 200 at 23.03 seconds. Her time in the 100 currently ranks No. 4 in the NCAA this year before taking other meets this weekend into account. Her time in the 200 is 12th. She already ranked No. 2 in the 400 coming into this weekend.
"Kendall Baisden showed not only at the conference level but the national level in the 100 meters that she's a force to be wreckoned with," Sategna said.
400 hurdlers remain dominant as Jones sets a PR
Freshman hurdler Ariel Jones set a personal record and won the 400 hurdles with a time of 58.01 on Saturday and moves her to No. 19 in the NCAA. Jones was joined by junior Melissa Gonzalez, who placed second with a time of 58.80. The two hurdlers are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the Big 12.
Uhr rolls to win in 800
Robert Uhr ran his way to victory on Saturday night at the Longhorn Invitational. The sophomore crossed the line in 1:49.44 for a new personal best. His time ranks him fifth in the conference this year as well.
It was a successful night for Texas in the women's 800 meters as well. Mary Beth Hamilton and Catherine Romanick post ran PR's while Hamilton finished third.
Lutz makes move in 1500m
Senior Craig Lutz has made an impact in the long-distance races for the Longhorns, but on Saturday he showed he can be a force in the mid-distance area as well.
Lutz finished second at the Longhorn Invitational in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:44.88. That time moves him to No. 3 in the Big 12 for an event he is not known for. Fellow senior Mark Pinales also ran a PR time in the 1,500, clocking 3:49.13 to finish ninth. Brady Turnbull took sixth.
