The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Conference Clash - Power Five Invitational
01.23.2016 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Longhorns close busy weekend with impressive showing
Post-Meet Notes | Power Five Photo Gallery
Complete Results: Power Five Invitational | Cherry & Silver Invitational
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Texas women's track and field team helped win the Conference Clash Power Five Invitational while the men's squad played a major role and took down the first school record of the season.
Texas teamed up with Arizona, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Purdue and USC to take on the likes of Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt's women in the dual meet formatted meet.
The Power Five women's team bested the SEC teams by the final score of 85-84. The men's scoring went in the SEC's favor, 91-74. Texas scored the most points overall for the women with 24 while the Longhorn men added 25 points to the team's effort. Only LSU outscored the Texas men with 28 points.
The Longhorns also were in action in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the second day of the Cherry and Silver Invitational. Texas sent its throwers and pole vaulters to compete in the meet and saw a successful weekend there as well.
Texas closed the day in Birmingham with its most impressive performance of the day at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The team of Chris Irvin, Zack Bilderback, Byron Robinson and AJ Bailey combined to finish second in the 4x400 meter relay while breaking the school record. The Horns crossed the line in 3:06.36 to post the No. 4 time in the NCAA this season.
The women's 4x4 team grabbed a win, clocking in at 3:34.36 to set a new CrossPlex facility record.
Texas also saw victories in the women's 60 meters and men's shot put at the Power Five Invitational.
Morolake Akinosun crossed the finish line in 7.26 seconds to match her time from last week's season opener. Ryan Crouser post another shot put victory with a mark of 19.99 meters (65-7.00) to set a new facility record.
"Morolake did what she does best, and again Teahna Daniels continues to impress," Head Coach Mario Sategna said. "Teahna didn't get a great start but she fought back to finish third after running 7.28 yesterday in the prelims."
Morolake runs 7.26 to get a win in 60m at Power Five Invite. Teahna takes 3rd in 7.29. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/6VBGVxjENr
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) January 23, 2016
The Longhorns also had three runner-up finishes during individual events. Bilderback took second in the men's 400 meters. Sophomore Ariel Jones posted a personal record in the 60 meter hurdles to finish second in 8.28 seconds for the women's team, and in his Texas debut Steffin McCarter leapt 7.59 meters (24-11.00) in the long jump.
"Steffin McCarter jumping 24-11 is a great season opener and a phenomenal way for him to start his collegiate career in his first meet," Sategna said.
Sategna said he looks forward to an off-week next week for his team and is happy with the total team effort from everyone within his program this weekend. Texas is currently slated to compete at the Razorback Invitational, but the team will be gearing up for the Husker Invitational in two weeks.
"I'm really, really proud of both groups, here in Birmingham and in Albuquerque," Sategna said. "From the coaches to the medical, we always talk about a complete team effort. There are so many different things that we're able to do to put our athletes in situations to give them the very best and I want to make sure to thank them for their efforts on and off the track."
Men's 4x400 Relay Sets Tone
Texas put the names of its top 400 meter runners on the entry card to run the 4x400 at the Power Five Invitational on Saturday afternoon and it paid off. Chris Irvin, Zack Bilderback, Byron Robinson and AJ Bailey combined to run 3:06.36 and break the school record.
The previous record was 3:06.56 set last year at the NCAA Championships by the group of Robinson, Senoj-Jay Givans, Irvin and Bilderback. The time ranks No. 4 in the NCAA so far this season after Florida, Baylor and LSU all ran faster times on Saturday.
The women's 4x400 team of Ariel Jones, Chrisann Gordon, Morolake Akinosun and Courtney Okolo came away victorious on Saturday in Birmingham with a time of 3:34.36. That was good enough for a new facility record at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
SCHOOL RECORD: Men's 4x400 runs 3:06.36 to finish 2nd at Power Five Invite. Ranks No. 4 in NCAA this season. #HookEm
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) January 23, 2016
Jones Cracks All-Time Top 10
Sophomore hurdler Ariel Jones finished second on Saturday in the women's 60 meter hurdles. She clocked in with a time of 8.28 seconds. It marked her second PR of the season and made her the No. 9 performer in Texas history.
"Ariel Jones came up huge in the 60 meter hurdles. It shows she can be a force not only at the conference level but also the national level in the short hurdles," said Head Coach Mario Sategna.
Women's Pole Vaulters Display Depth in New Mexico
Texas sent its pole vaulters to Albuquerque, New Mexico, this weekend where it became the Longhorns vs. the Razorbacks in a way. Both teams have shown quality depth over the last few years on the women's side of the event and showed it on Saturday at the Cherry and Silver Invitational.
Senior Kaitlin Petrillose cleared 4.30 meters to finish fourth overall and second among collegiate athletes as a number of professionals also jumped in the competition.
Redshirt freshman Ali Uhle posted her second straight PR of the season, clearing 4.15 meters (13-7.25). That moves her into No. 5 on the all-timer performers list. Sophomore Kally Long also cleared 4.15 to finish one spot behind Uhle in eighth place based on misses.
The Longhorns also sent a group of throwers to New Mexico and saw N'Dia Warren-Jacques finish second in the shot put with her mark of 14.98 meters (49-1.75). Her runner-up finish came a day after teammate Lauryn Caldwell posted a huge PR in the weight throw to cap off a successful weekend for the throws and pole vault group.
