BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Four individual event wins as part of six podium finishes highlighted the performances for the UT Arlington men's and women's teams on the final day of the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Tuesday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
As part of those performances, the Mavericks had repeat champions in both the high jump by Bryson DeBerry and the 60m hurdles from Joel Bengtsson. A junior college transfer, DeBerry has now won the men's high jump each of his only two years in the conference, and the same goes for Bengtsson as the sophomore bettered his freshman showing.
 
In addition to Bengtsson and DeBerry, Madeleine Rowe and Cole Klashinsky both claimed gold medals in the 1 mile and 3000m, respectively, with Klashinsky completing the double following a distance triumph on Monday night as well. Meanwhile, Lucas Van Klaveren and Darius Prescott brought home bronze medals in the heptathlon and triple jump, respectively.
 
The men finished in 5th place over the two-day event with 79 points, while the women posted a 7th-place showing with 38 points. It marks the first time in the eight years that UTA has been a member of the Sun Belt that the men have finished outside of the top-2; meanwhile, the women equaled their 7th-place finish from a season ago.
 
"It certainly wasn't the type of conference championship we are accustomed to having, but just the fact that we were back in action and able to compete and hold a league meet was truly something to be thankful for," said UTA head coach John Sauerhage. "I'm proud of Cole, Joel, Bryson and Madeleine for their individual titles, and also for everyone else who scored points for us over the last two days."
 
Bengtsson defended his 60m hurdles title as he crossed in a personal-best 7.94 – .02 shy of setting the Sun Belt Championship record. As it stands, the 7.94 is the 4th-best mark in program history and .08 better than what he won the conference with last year as a freshman (8.02).
 
DeBerry brought the high jump gold back to Arlington for the second-straight year, this time claiming top honors by clearing 2.17m. He set the championship record last year by clearing 2.20m.
 
Rowe claimed gold in the mile with a time of 4:57.86 thanks to incredible final 400m. Sitting in 5th place at the 600m mark – and after momentarily stumbling as a result of falling competitors around her – the senior moved into 2nd place for the final 200m. In that final 200m, she clocked a time of 30.6 – 1.5 quicker than anyone else in the field to overtake Pauline Meyer from Arkansas State for 1st place.
 
Klashinsky backed up his win in the 5000m Monday night with an impressive victory in the 3000m on Tuesday, crossing in a personal-record time of 8:20.51 – more than six seconds clear of the runner-up and more than four seconds better than his previous best.
 
Among the other notable UTA performances on Tuesday:

• Van Klaveren won bronze in the heptathlon with 5,300 points. The junior recorded marks of 8.53 in the 60m hurdles, 4.31m in the pole vault and 2:53.47 in the 1000m in the three events contested on day two.
   
• Prescott took 3rd in the triple jump with a mark of 14.81. Marvin Walford (7th, 14.01m) and Cameron Davis (8th, 13.90m) also scored points in the event for the Mavs.
   
• Jade Bontke just missed medaling in the pentathlon with a 4th-place finish courtesy of 3,588 points – the 3rd-highest total in program history and an improvement of more than 250 points from her 6th-place showing at least year's conference meet. The junior set three PRs along the way in the 800m (2:29.44), shot put (9.88m) and long jump (5.68m); she also registered marks of 9.33 in the 60m hurdles and 1.63m in the high jump.
   
• In the 800m, Mathilde Ruud set a PR, clocking a 2:14.08 to just miss the podium with a 4th-place finish but still gave UTA five points.
   
• Calyha Brown set a PR in the shot put (14.02m) to finish in 5th place and register four points for the Mavs. Mia Black (12.91m) didn't score points, but did reach a PR in the event.
   
• Abigail Kelly-Salo secured four points with a 5th-place showing in the pole vault (3.81m). Heather Ward set a PR in the same event, clearing 3.46m.
   
• Medric Roberson finished 7th in the 60m hurdles (8.23) to provide UTA two points.
   
• Marquentin Barnes tallied a point for the Mavs in the 3000m with a time of 8:49.17.
   
• Connor Butterfield registered 6th in the mile with a time of 4:17.53 to give the Mavs three points.
   
• In the 60m, Chidera Agim (6.94) and Seth Texada (6.95) finished 6th and 7th, respectively, to collect five total points.
   
• DaVontay Kennedy posted a 7th-place position in the 200m (22.13).
   
• Valeria Diaz didn't score points, but did establish a PR in the 3000m (10:23.77).

MEN'S RESULTS (Points)
1. Arkansas State – 155
2. Texas State – 147.5
3. Louisiana – 111
4. South Alabama – 84
5. UT Arlington – 79
6. Little Rock – 62
7. ULM – 19.5
 
WOMEN'S RESULTS (Points)
1. Arkansas State – 145
2. Texas State – 94.5
3. Troy – 90
4. Louisiana – 65.5
5. South Alabama – 64
6. Coastal Carolina – 54
7. UT Arlington – 38
8. Georgia Southern – 31
9. Appalachian State – 29
10. Georgia State – 21
11. Little Rock – 17
12. ULM – 13
 
For those UTA members who qualify, the 2021 NCAA Division-I Indoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for Mar. 11-13 in Fayetteville at Arkansas's Randal Tyson Center.
 
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