Field events lead No. 13 Women's Track & Field on first day of Razorback Invitational
Jan. 25, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The No. 13 Texas Women's Track & Field team stands in second place in the team rankings after eight scored events on the first of two days of competition at the Arkansas Razorback Team Invitational. The Longhorns found success in the field events and got off to a fast start in the running events on Friday to set the stage for what will be an exciting Saturday session at the competitive 11-team invite. The meet features eight USTFCCCA top-25 teams, including three that are in the top 10. "I thought we had some good performances today, particularly in the field events," said interim head coach Rose Brimmer. "We knew that this meet would be a meet where we would have great competition. We wanted to be able to stand up to that competition like we have been standing up in the past two weeks, and I think we definitely did that." Junior high jumper Shanay Briscoe led the way for Texas, clearing a new indoor career best (6-2, 1.88m) and finishing second only to Arizona's Brigetta Barrett, who won both the indoor and outdoor NCAA high jump titles in 2012. Senior Alicia Peterson tied for 10th in the event with a mark of 5-7.75 (1.72m). In pole vault, senior Natasha Masterson tied for second and picked up seven team points after clearing a season-best height of 13-2.25 (4.02m). Teammate Kaitlin Petrillose was close behind, placing fourth in the event and tallying five points with a mark of 12-8.25 (3.87m). Rounding out the field events for the Longhorns was junior A'Lexus Brannon, who took second in long jump for eight points after leaping a season-best 20-0.5 (6.11m). "When you come to a competition like this, you always want to try and step it up a notch," said Brimmer. "We have been jumping higher and farther week to week, and I am so pleased with how well the field events are coming along for us." Texas had a pair of scorers in the both of the day's running event finals. Junior Megan Siebert crossed second in the 5,000-meter with a time of 17:13.66 for eight points, while sophomore Jessica Harper earned three points with a sixth-place finish in the event in 17:38.61. In the 200-meter, junior Christy Udoh and freshman Courtney Okolo recorded back-to-back finishes with Udoh tallying third (23.87) and Courtney Okolo fourth (23.89) for 11 total team points. Also competing in the 200m were junior Danielle Dowie (11th, 24.22), senior Chalonda Goodman (12th, 24.23), junior Briana Nelson (14th, 24.43) and freshmen Bernice Bamgbade (32nd, 25.28) and Kiersten Duncan (25.35). Texas had three runners advance to Saturday's rounds in both the 60-meter and 60-meter hurdles prelims. Sophomore Morgan Snow moved on in both events, posting the seventh-fastest time in the hurdles (8.27) and a 7.621 in the 60m to qualify 16th. Snow will be joined in the 60m semifinals by Udoh, who posted the sixth-fastest time overall (7.52) and Goodman, who qualified 12th (7.57). Duncan and Bamgbade also ran in the event prelims, finishing 32nd and 36th, respectively. Brannon and freshman Melissa Gonzalez will compete in Saturday's 60m hurdles semifinals with Snow. Gonzalez finished 11th overall with a time of 8.73 while Brannon was 13th in 8.80. In addition to the two short-sprint events, UT will have 11 competitors in six additional individual races and will also field a team in the 4x400-meter relay. Saturday's session begins at Noon (C.T.) with the Texas women kicking off their day in the 400-meter at 12:55 p.m. TEXAS INDIVIDUAL RESULTS - RAZORBACK TEAM INVITATIONAL FRIDAY, JAN. 25 Pole vault Long jump 5,000m 200m 60m (prelims) 60m hurdles (prelims) TEAM STANDINGS - 8 Events Scored
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