SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The UTA men's 4x100-meter relay and 4x400 relay each earned automatic berths into the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships next month after posting season-best times in their respective events. It is the first time in coach John Sauerhage's three-decade tenure that both relays advanced to the NCAA Championships.
 
The 4x100m group, which consisted of Isaiah McBride, Deontre Haynes, Anthony Aldridge and D'Undre Mitchell ran a time of 39.70 to begin Saturday night's festivities. The quartet placed third in its heat to earn the automatic berth into the Austin field. The Mavericks had the eighth-fastest time among the 24 teams at the NCAA West Regional.
 
The 4x400 squad then closed the night and the three-day event by automatically advancing as well on the basis of its third-place heat finish. The Mavericks posted a 3:05.22 to blow away their season-best time and record the seventh-best clocking among the 24 schools. The runners for UTA are all seniors—Mitchell, David Seastrunk, Brenden Wallace and Erik Martinsson.
 
"That was an unbelievable way to cap a thrilling weekend," UTA coach John Sauerhage said. "I am so proud of the seniors. The conference loss was tough, but they bounced back like champions this weekend. We are thrilled to take such a great group of student-athletes to Austin."
 
Victor Fincher closed his decorated career by running a 14.15 in the men's 110m hurdles quarterfinals. Fincher placed 22nd overall in his final meet as a Maverick. On Friday he set a personal best with a time of 14.02.
 
UTA's final competitor on Saturday was Darius Prescott, who jumped 46-8 ¼ in his debut in the NCAA West Prelims.
 
The men's relay teams will join individual participants Martinsson (men's 800 meters) and Alexus Henry (women's high jump) at the NCAA Championships. The men's contingent will compete on June 5 and 7, while Henry will participate on June 8.
 
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