HOUSTON –
Thai Williams' jumps in both the long and triple were the highlight of several personal bests that Lamar University Track and Field overcame in the final day of the Houston Invitational, hosted at the Yeoman Fieldhouse.
She was joined by her fellow jumpers to notch six top 10 places, two PRs and another two spots claimed in the record books. The LU distance squad also shined for three personal marks falling and a sweep of first and second in the men's 3,000-meters.
WOMEN'S LONG LEAPS TO BIG FINISHES
Thai Williams and
Deja Phillips had big days in the long jump, both hitting personal records and securing a place in the top five best jumps in the Lamar University record books. Williams jumped to a 19-1.25 mark that claimed third all-time behind Catina Crawford's mark in 1994 (20-1.25) and Beatrice Douglas' in 2013 (19-3.50).
Deja Phillips tied for the fourth best jump with Erin Brown (2013) on a leap of 19-0.50. Williams hit her best in her fourth try and Phillips did it on her fifth. The two finished in fourth and seventh places, respectively, at the meet in the event.
WILLIAMS' HAND STAYED HOT IN TRIPLE
A little over five hours after her move in the long jump, Williams went out and grabbed another personal best and spot in the LU record books in the triple. Never having a foul, she was able to clinch a 38-10.5 mark in her third jump. That mark put her second all-time in school history, and leaves the top three marks of the list all in the last two seasons.
Silvia LaTella tops the board from a 2016 performance and freshman Taylar Price is third after a 38-8.75 jump at the Aggie Invitational this season.
DISTANCE LOGGED THREE PRS
All three
Freddie Gasbarri, Stu Ferguson and
Evelyn Chavez recorded their best times in their respective 3000-meter runs, and Gasbarri and Ferguson did it while sweeping first and second place on the men's side.
Gasbarri and Ferguson burned the rest of the field by more than five seconds, but the two finished within three one-hundredths of a second of each other. Gasbarri, the Southland Conference cross country runner up, crossed the line in 8:31.22 and Ferguson was right behind at 8:31.25.
Women's cross country champion Chavez recorded her 9:49.03 time in second only behind Rice's Katie Jensen, who broke the meet record Saturday. Chavez beat her previous best of 9:54.22 from 2015.
TAYLOR, FOWLER TOP COLLEGIANS IN RESPECTIVE EVENTS
Both
Dominique Taylor and
Chanissey Fowler made it past the prelims and semifinals to finish third in the finals of their events, but both were the top collegiate runners.
Taylor broke a school record in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles Friday night. Saturday she opened the day with an 8.71 second race that put her as the third seed, which she would later claim in the finals. Taylor finished behind an unattached Phylicia George and Club North West's Evonne Britton.
Fowler ran a 7.59 time in the semifinals of the 60-meter dash and dropped her time to 7.53 in the finals, narrowly missing her 7.51 career best. She crossed behind Elite Performance's Rosangela Oliveira Santo and an unattached Olivia Ekpone.
MEN'S TRIPLE HAS TOP 10 MARKS
Brian O'Bonna,
Tylen Guidry and
Javon McCray all finished in the top 10 at the Houston Invitational in the men's triple jump. O'Bonna finished sixth overall with a 47-9.75 jump, just ahead of Guidry's 47-8.0 leap that moved him to seventh.
Javon McCray was ninth overall with a 46-8.75 mark.
OTHER TOP 10 PERFORMERS
Two the men's and women's 400-meter runners picked up top 10 performances in the second section of the event Saturday. Trashuna Hardy was 10
th on a 59.15 time, and
Christian Joseph finished sixth on the men's side at 50.50. Abram Petties' 200-meter time from Friday held and he finished third overall on a section one time of 23.08.
Alexandra Sokolova was 10
th in the women's mile run with a 5:12.79 finish.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals continue their indoor season Friday when they head to Notre Dame to compete in the Meyo Invitational, hosted at Loftus Sports Center. It lasts through both Friday and Saturday.
