The South Plains College men’s and women’s track and field teams capped the NMJC Ross Black Open with nine event titles on Saturday at the Ross Black Track and Field Complex.
“This was a smaller meet, but overall I thought we went out and worked on the things we needed to, and executed well for the most part,” South Plains head coach Erik Vance said. “Our throws and jumps group had a good outing, and on the track, we competed well in each race and I thought our sprinters ran really well.”
Sophomore Justin Guy kicked started the meet with a first place finish in the 110 hurdles, clocking a 13.69. Dishaun Lamb was second in the 110 hurdles, turning in a 13.98. Caio Almeida followed up with a first place finish in the 400 hurdles, crossing the line in 50.95.
In the men’s high jump, Kudakwashe Chadenga took the top spot after clearing the bar at 7' 1'. Elisha Teneus-Claude won the men’s long jump with a mark of 24' 1.75' for South Plains. Sophomore Donroy Brown was second in the men’s shot put, posting a final mark of 55' 0.75'. The Texans went three-four in the 100 meters as Keontae Gaines crossed the line in 10.32, while Noah Lawson was fourth in 10.47. South Plains closed out the meet with a first place finish in the 4x400 relay as Christian Francisco, Aron Tanui, Kimar Farquharson, and Tajae Francis posted a 3:11.36.
“I thought overall we were able to put some things together and cleaned some things up,” Vance said. “At the end of the day, we are just trying to get our work in before we go to nationals. We have a few more opportunities and we need to take advantage each time out.”
Ashyira Savage turned in the top time in the women’s 100 hurdles for South Plains, getting across the line in 13.92. The Lady Texans notched the fastest time in the 4x100 relay as Success Umukoro, Corlasia Scott, Rushana Dwyer, and Breanna Clarke ran a 45.14.
South Plains’ Kimola Hines won the women’s discus, turning in a mark of 159' 9', and took second in the women’s hammer with a throw of 148' 11'. In the women’s 200 meters, Umukoro took second in 23.66, while Savage was third in 25.10.
Dwyer and Lilliana Guerrero went two-three in the 1500 meters for SPC, as Dwyer was second in 4:55.89, and Guerrero was third in 4:57.35. The Lady Texans closed out the meet with a first place finish in the 4x400 relay, as Safia Hinds, Scott, Shenell Tucker, and Leticia Quingostas posted a 3:50.93.
“We’re trying to compete the best we and each week,” Vance said. “The season is winding down, and we’re trying to take advantage of the few opportunities we have left. We need to continue to try and be sharper all the way around, and we have a few weeks left to do that before we compete at nationals.”
South Plains will be back on the road on Thursday when they take to the track at the Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational on the campus of the University of New Mexico In Albuquerque.