May 15, 2006
UT Arlington junior sprinter Jared Connaughton captured two gold medals and senior hurdler Jon McDowell won the conference championship in the 110-meter hurdles to lead the Mavericks to a third-place team finish at the 2006 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Maverick Stadium Monday.
UTA tallied 80 points over the last eight events to vault into third place with 111 for the three-day championships. Sam Houston State defended their conference crown with 169 points and Texas San Antonio placed second with 132.
"The difference between us and Sam Houston is depth," said UTA Head Track and Field Coach John Sauerhage. "We have top athletes and many of them turned in outstanding performances. We are going to try and go out and bring in some people, who with our current roster, will push for a conference championship."
Connaughton will be the cornerstone of for the 2007 season after staking his claim as one of the top sprinters in the nation after winning the 100 and 200 meters and helping the Mavs to a second-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay.
He outlasted rival Ravyn Hayward of Northwestern State in both events.
"(Ravyn) and I are friends until the gun goes off and for 10 seconds we can't stand each other," said Connaughton. "I think it is good for the sport and the conference. There is a good core of jumpers and sprinters in this conference that are national-caliber athletes."
Connaughton earned all-conference honors in his third event of the day, running the anchor leg of the 4x100-meter relay. His strong leg held off Texas State and Texas-San Antonio for second place.
Jon McDowell, who shaved off almost a half-second off his personal-best time in the 110-meter hurdles, clocked a 14.02 to hold off UTSA's Will Vese for the championship.
"I felt I got off to a good start. I knew if I could get to the first hurdle out front I could just hold them off," said McDowell, who transferred from Mississippi State two seasons ago. "(Winning the championship) feels unbelievable. I've had some injuries and maybe backing off my workouts and resting was what I needed. The Lord just gave me wings on my back this weekend and winning was truly a blessing."
Senior pole vaulter Shay Collett earned all-SLC honors with third place vault of 3.65 meters (17-feet, ¾-inches).
Senior middle distance runner Jacob Cedertun could not run down Lamar's Danny Shaw over the final 100 meters and finished in second place with a time of 3:58.37.
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