The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
New Mexico Collegiate Classic
No. 7/18 Track and Field led by Blazevica and Smith with event wins at NM Collegiate Classic
02.02.2024 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Kristine Blazevica and Ackelia Smith record wins, while Neugebauer leads heptathlon after four events.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The No. 7/18 Texas track and field program was led by Kristine Blazevica and Ackelia Smith on the first day of the New Mexico Collegiate Classic after each secured event wins for the Longhorns.
In its second meet of the season at the Albuquerque Convention Center, the Longhorns began the day with Blazevica, Leo Neugebauer and Brock Lewis competing in their first multis competition of the year. Blazevica went on to win the women's pentathlon with 4,312 points – the second-best performance behind her program record in school history.
Blazevica began the day recording a personal-best in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.36 seconds. She followed up clearing 1.70m (5-7) in the high jump, threw for 12.03m (39-5.75) in the shot put and jumped for 5.98m (19-7.5) in the long jump. She concluded the five events winning the 800-meter dash in 2:14.25, the fastest time of the day by more than eight seconds.
On the men's side, Neugebauer leads the heptathlon after four events with a day-one personal-best score of 3,643 points. Lewis, the freshman, sits in 12th with 2,638.
Neugebauer also started his day with a personal-best in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.96 seconds. The All-American recorded the best long jump mark of 7.75m (25-5.25) and later threw for the NCAA-best mark as a multi in the shot put with his throw of 16.77m (55-0.25) despite a big foul on his final attempt. Neugebauer closed the afternoon as the only athlete to clear 2.05m (6-8.75).
Lewis finished the 60m in 7.34 seconds, recorded a jump of 6.64m (21-9.5) in long jump, threw for 10.81m (35-5.75) in shot and cleared 1.78m (5-10) in high jump.
Smith added yet another long jump win to her name after improving her NCAA-leading mark to 6.85m (22-5.75). The mark ranks as the third-best jump in Texas history behind Tara Davis and her own of 6.88m set last season at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Her series also included a jump of 6.76m (22-2.25), which would ranks as the fourth-best in UT history. Freshman Aaliyah Foster set a new collegiate best with her jump of 6.46m (21-2.5) and moved to No. 6 on the UT All-Time Performer list.
On the men's side, Kelsey Daniel finished third with a season-best mark of 7.63m (25-0.5) to finish third. Jathan Belaire finished fifth at 7.30m (23-11.5), while Solomon Washington was 11th at 6.98m (22-10.75) and Brennen McHenry 14th at 6.74m (22-1.5).
Trinity Tomlinson finished tied for second in the high jump with her clearance of 1.81m (5-11.25), narrowly missing 1.86m. For the men, Dylan Lineberger was eighth clearing 2.07m (6-9.5).
Jeremiah Nubbe was third in the weight throw with a heave of 21.20m (69-6), adding yet another all-time top performance list in Texas history at No. 11. Luke Patridge made his Texas debut finished seventh with a throw of 18.67m (61-3) and moved to No. 5 on the UT All-Time Performer list. Kiana Lowery was sixth at 18.14m (59-6) for the women.
On the track, Kevona Davis led the women in the 200-meter Invitational with her time of 22.90 and finished fourth. Texas Ex Julien Alfred set a world-leading time of 22.16 to win, while fellow Texas Ex Lanae Tava-Thomas finished third in 22.72. Kendondra Davis (23.33) and Dejanea Oakley (23.33) were the other two top-10 finishers for the Longhorns finishing eighth and ninth, respectively.
The men's 200 was led by Nolton Shelvin who finished second with a time of 20.67, improving his spot at No. 3 on the UT All-Time Performer list. Sophomore John Rutledge finished 10th with his time of 20.97.
Players Mentioned
