The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
New Mexico Classic
Vaulters, Throwers close New Mexico Classic strong
02.04.2017 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Long ties personal record as throwers
Complete Results | Texas Post-Meet Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Texas Track & Field closed with New Mexico Classic with momentum heading into the final test of the regular season for the pole vaulters and throwers. The Longhorns posted personal bests and season bests in nearly all the events they competed in on Saturday.
The best performance of the day came from junior pole vaulter Kally Long. She tied her personal record of 4.42 meters (14-6.00) and had three good attempts at a new PR at 4.52 meters (14-10.00). She remains No. 3 in the NCAA this season with one more chance to compete next week at the Husky Classic against strong competition from the PAC 12.
Long finished fourth behind a trio of professional vaulters in the field and Assistant Coach Ty Sevin said he was excited to see her go head-to-head with them and continue jumping consistently well in competition.
"You're always kind of worried that they get stagnant and that they can't emotionally get up," Sevin said of the pole vault. "Each and every week Kally has been able to come out and perform at such a high level that it's encouraging knowing that when she gets into a situation where she's going to have to make that next bar, that she's jumped at it multiple times at other meets."
Kally Long ties her PR at 4.42m (14-6). Next bar will be 4.52m (14-10), 1 cm shy of NCAA lead. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/A2t3iIe0i3
— Texas T&F/XC (@UTexasTrack) February 4, 2017
The men's team saw a huge improvement from redshirt freshman David Rueff in the shot put. He finished eighth but solidified a spot on the roster for the Big 12 Championship as he shattered his previous PR by more than five feet. His toss of 15.65 meters (51-4.25) now ranks him eighth in the Big 12.
Rueff's performance comes a day after Alan Zapalac posted two PR's in the men's weight throw. Sevin said the men's throwers are beginning to build steam as the conference championship quickly approaches.
"I think it's starting to come together, and now the next challenge for David is to be able to repeat that," Sevin said. "There's no such thing as luck in track and field. You have to do things right for a good result and it's our job as coaches to go back and keep solidifying the process."
Sophomore Charles Mills ran a solid race in the men's mile with a time of 4:20.80 to finish in ninth place overall. Combined with his win in the 3,000 meters on Friday night and applying the altitude conversion to his times in both races, he posted two personal bests over the weekend.
Also showing well for the Longhorns in the pole vault was the pair of Shay Petty and Ali Uhle. Both cleared new season bests with Petty cracking the NCAA top 20. Her height of 4.12 meters (13-6.25) ranks her 19th in the nation heading into the Husky Classic next week. Uhle cleared 4.02 meters (13-2.25) for her best mark of the year and now ranks ninth in the Big 12.
In women's shot put, freshman Elena Bruckner finished fifth and junior Lauryn Caldwell was right behind her in sixth.
Overall, Sevin was pleased with the two days at the New Mexico Classic that saw his athletes post nine personal bests, including some who have improved those marks multiple times this season.
"Again walking away with a great feeling of knowing that these kids buy in and they work really hard and the success is showing," Sevin said. "It's all setting yourself up to be successful and I'm really happy with where they are right now."
Texas will split up again next weekend for competition at two different meets. The distance group will join the throwers and pole vaulters at the Husky Classic hosted by Washington. The sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers head to Arkansas for the Tyson Invitational. Both are two-day meets that traditionally bring in top competition each year.
Coach Talk
Assistant Coach Ty Sevin
On Kally Long consistently jumping at higher bars at meets: Kaitlin Petrillose jumped at the collegiate record three or four times before she broke it, and all she needed was that little bit of extra adrenaline at the national championships, and I look forward to Kally being able to challenge Kaitlin's school record.
Players Mentioned
