Jan. 18, 2014
Final Results
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Ryan Tilotta and Ashly Wright each picked up individual victories Saturday to highlight UT Arlington's showing at the season-opening Texas A&M 10-Team Invitational. With 73 points, the men placed third, while the women took ninth (30 points) at the highly competitive meet.
Tilotta's win was the men's feature finish. The junior won the 3000 meters with a clocking of 8:19.8, easily outpacing the runner up by more than three seconds.
"The men had an outstanding first meet," head coach John Sauerhage said. "We showed ourselves that we can have an all-around performance in every event area, yet we still have a lot of work to do."
On the women's side, Wright placed first in the 800 meters with an impressive season-opening time of 2:11.22. The junior won the event by more than half a second, and was just .24 off a meet record time.
"We had a solid first meet with our ladies, led by strong performances in middle distance and jumps," Sauerhage said.
Another strong effort from the men came via Roland Sales, the runner up in the high jump (6-10 ¼). Renan Palma's return after a redshirt year included a fourth-place showing in the 60m hurdles (8.19).
Emil Blomberg, who placed third in the mile (4:16.20), and Philip Critelli, who claimed third in the 800m (1:53.56), paced the middle distance crew.
Quentin Butler posted a pair of top-eight finishes. He took fourth in the long jump (23-9 ½) and eighth in the 60 meters (6.85).
Three Mavericks placed among the top eight in the triple jump, led by bronze finisher Omar Barnes (47-2 1/4).
In the women's long jump, Morgan Domingue (18-7 ¾) continued her rise with a third-place landing.
Freshman Tamerah Gorham enjoyed a strong first collegiate meet, as she placed fifth in the 800m (2:13.57). Debra Johnson's debut in the triple jump also went well, as she finished eighth (38-6 ¾).
Hannah Nilsson (4:57.41) had a personal best in a seventh-place finish in the mile run. Porschea Wilson reached the finals of the 60m hurdles in 8.87, placing eighth. Gabriela Alfonzo also placed eighth (3000m) with a personal-best effort of 10:15.36.
UTA will be back in action next Saturday at the Mark Colligan Memorial in Lincoln, Neb.
"We left some very talented athletes home this weekend, so we are looking forward to competing at Nebraska, where we can really get everyone going," Sauerhage said.
