The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Cherry & Silver Invitational
Long, Bruckner lead charge at New Mexico
01.21.2017 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Vaulters, Throwers thrive on final day of Cherry & Silver Invite
Complete Results | Texas Post-Meet Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Texas Track & Field saw another day full of good performances from its throwers and vaulters at the Cherry & Silver Invitational hosted by New Mexico as the Longhorns got a pair of wins from the women.
Assistant Coach Ty Sevin said he was beyond pleased with how his athletes performed this weekend from their attitude to their execution.
Junior Kally Long posted her second victory in a row to start the indoor season. She cleared 4.35 meters (14-3.25) for the win in the pole vault. She just missed another personal record as she missed three close attempts at 4.45 meters, which would have improved her national-leading mark from last week by three centimeters.
Joining Long in the solid performance in the pole vault on Saturday were Shay Petty, Ali Uhle and Calie Spencer. Petty and Uhle both went over the bar safely at 4.00 meters (13-1.50) for season bests from each. Petty finished the competition fourth with Uhle right behind in fifth based on misses. Spencer was seventh at 3.75 meters (12-3.50).
Freshman thrower Elena Bruckner got the first win of her collegiate career with the best mark of the day in the shot put. She registered a distance of 15.74 meters (51-7.75), just shy of her mark last week. Junior Lauryn Caldwell finished fifth with her season-best throw of 14.56 meters (47-9.25). Junior Haley Crouser also threw close to her mark from last week at 12.71 meters (41-8.50) for 12th place.
"When I left the track today, I have never been more excited about the potential for a group as I did today because there is so much improvement and growth that is happening from a competition standpoint and a mindset," Sevin said. "I feel like Kally and Elena led the way today. It's nice to see their leadership and devotion of all our kids cheering for each other throughout the meet. I think it was a great day for us."
In the men's shot put, redshirt freshman David Rueff finished 11th with a throw of 13.97 meters (45-10.00).
The throwers and vaulters will be off from competition next week. The group will head back to Albuquerque in two weeks for the New Mexico Collegiate Invitational while the rest of the team heads to the Husker Invitational and the Armory Track Invitational.
Coach Talk
Assistant Coach Ty Sevin – Pole Vault/Throws
On the improvement in his group: I'm really excited to see the improvement these kids are making from week to week. Every week we identify something to work on and it doesn't always show up in results in some cases. It's nice to see the process solidify for them and see them all growing in their events.
On the attitude of his group: They are all being very professional in how they approach practices and competition. I leave this meet really optimistic about having two weeks to work in training and to continue to get better.
On Kally Long: I'm really happy that Kally was able to go in and jump well after her strong opener last week. Anytime you go in after a double-PR, you never know how they will respond the next time out. I was really pleased that she made 4.35 really easy and had three good attempts at 4.45. I'm super pleased with the other three vaulters to see them transition from the short run to a full approach and get dialed in.
On Elena Bruckner: Even though she didn't PR, I felt like her process as far as how she operated in the warmup and in the meet, I think when we get back into that situation and the competition is stiffer, we can feed off of it; and I feel like she can put herself into a position to be really competitive at the national level.
Players Mentioned
