Jan. 19, 2007

HOUSTON - The Lamar University men's and women's track teams took to the track at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational hosted by the University of Houston on Friday, turning in several strong performances.

Renee Graham got things started for Lamar in the first running event of the day, when she set a new meet record on the 5,000 meter run with a 17:25.49 performance. She broke the record of 17:26.79 set by Katherine Gorry of Rice University in 2006. Stacey Monteau also turned in a solid performance, running to a fifth place finish in a time of 18:10.17.

Hamish Meacheam continued Lamar's strong performance in the 5,000 meter run, grabbing a third place finish in the men's race in a time of 15:23.62. Randy Becker came in 11th place in a time of 16:28.99.

In the Women's one mile run, Lamar grabbed three top 10 finishes, as Clerc Koenck placed second with a 4:56.96 performance, while Amanda King came in fourth place with a 5:03.63. Rachel Kingsford rounded out the Lady Cardinal finishers in ninth place with a time of 5:11.73.

The Lamar men also had a strong showing in the mile with four top six finishes and a total of six runners in the top 21. Francis Kasagule finished in second place with a time of 4:07.27 which broke the previous meet record. Danny Shaw turned in a fourth place finish in a time of 4:17.94, while Ewan Simpson and Aaron Brannen came in fifth and sixth in times of 4:21.36 and 4:22.58 respectively.

Brittney Pollard led four Lady Cardinals in the women's 400 meter dash, running to an 11th place finish in a time of 59.86, while Secret Thomas finished in 18th place in a time if 1:01.91.

In the women's 60-meter hurdles Jessika Johnson grabbed an eighth place finish in a time of 9.04 edging out teammate Adrianne Johnson who captured ninth place in a time of 9.05.

In the men's 60-meter dash Michael Gauthier sprinted to a 10th place finish in a time of 6.99 after qualifying in a time of 6.96.

In the women's 800 meter run Andrea Smith ran to a sixth place finish with a time of 2:19.34, while Merci Bungei finished in 11th place with a time of 2:28.08.

Lamar track will be in action again next Saturday, when they travel to Boston, Mass. for the Terrier Invitational.