BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UTA men's track and field team won the second leg of the track and field triple crown on Tuesday, claiming the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships by 14.5 points. The women also had a strong showing, finishing as the league's runner up.

UTA's victory, which was secured prior to the final race of the day, was the 10th men's conference indoor title in school history and the sixth under John Sauerhage. The group had last won an indoor title in 2014, the year of the program's lone triple crown in its history.

"Our athletes competed like champions," Sauerhage said. "We had guys step up and show our team the way this week. Any time you win a championship it takes special efforts from a lot of people, and you saw that over the past two days. We had some huge performances at the right time."

Joel Duren led the charge for the Mavericks, winning a pair of events. After claiming the 3000-meter title on Monday night, Duren returned Tuesday afternoon to complete the tough double by winning the mile with a time of 4:12.51. The native of Sweden was the high point scorer of the meet (20 points).

Erik Martinsson also picked up an individual victory for the men, as he brought home the 800m crown. His winning time of 1:51.41 came on the heels of a quick turnaround from a fourth-place showing in the 400m (48.24).

In the field, Tobi Fawehinmi won the triple jump with a mark of 50-11 (15.52m). It was the second-best jump in school history and topped his previous personal best by 10 inches.

The women had a pair of conference individual champions as well. First off, freshman Helen Falda continued her legendary season, winning the pole vault with a Sun Belt meet-record mark of 13-8 1/4. (4.17m).

Astrid Rosvall secured the women's other title with a time of 2:10.59 in the 800 meters. The rookie nearly had her own double, as she was the runner up in the mile (4:53.48) after being nipped at the line by .01.

"The women showed a lot of heart to come back to finish second," Sauerhage said. "It was very impressive. They proved their character today, and it gets us excited about the outdoor season."

Back on the men's side, Christian Schiemann placed third in the heptathlon with 5,171 points.

UTA showed its depth in the men's sprint hurdles, as Mavericks held down spots 2-4. Emeka Nwangwu ran a 7.97 in a runner-up showing, while Petter Gustafsson (8.08) and Victor Fincher (8.21) followed him through the line. The trio combined for 19 points in the event. Gustafsson later followed with a remarkable fifth-place finish in the high jump (6-6).

Three men also finished in the points in the 400 meters. In addition to Martinsson, Brenden Wallace (6th, 48.54) and Karl Goodman (7th, 48.59) scored for the Mavs.

For the women, Alexus Henry established a new school record in the pentathlon with 3,666 points, besting the old mark by eight. She finished third in the competition to earn a bronze medal.

Taylor Davis landed on the podium (third) thanks to a personal best by more than a second in the women's 400 meters. She notched a time of 54.70, which is the second-fastest clocking in school history, just off the school record of 54.59.

Tamerah Gorham was second in the 800 meters with a time of 2:11.47 to give the Mavs a 1-2 finish in that event. In addition, Victoria Rimpsey was third in the 60 meters (7.53), while Tori Shelton grabbed the same spot in the 5000 meters (17.32.25).

UTA was strong in the women's field events. Madison Pecot snagged third in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 12-6 ¼, while Valery Lavrusha took fourth in the triple jump (41-1) and Sara Lennman was fourth in the shot put (51-11 ¼).

--www.UTAMavs.com--