University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Place Fourth, Fifth at Houston Indoor Invitational
1/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Jan. 19, 2002
HOUSTON, Texas---In a meet reminiscent of the old Southwest Conference days, the University of Houston track and field squads went head-to-head with old foes Baylor, Rice, SMU and Texas at the Houston Indoor Invitational today, with the women capturing fourth while the men took fifth.
The women received solid performances in most of the events, including the sprints, distances and field events. All-Conference USA sprinter Lauren Smith took second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.53, while running a 25.01 in the 200 meters to earn fourth-place honors.
For the second consecutive week heptathlete Krystal Ward continued her excellence, grabbing second place in the high jump with a height of 5-05.75 as well as an eight-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 18-4.25.
In the distance events Heather Howse captured second on the grueling 5,000 meters, finishing in a time of 17:56.37. Vanessa Golston took fifth in the 3,000 meters (10:59.06) and ninth in the mile (5:21.85).
Wrapping up the field events, with favorite and teammate Rhian Clarke out with an illness, pole-vaulter Jessica Edwards cleared 11-7.75 for a third-place finish. In the weight throw Shayla Bowman rounded out the Cougar scoring with a sixth-place throw of 43-4.25.
Texas, Rice and Baylor outpointed the women on the afternoon. On the men's side the Cougars finished behind UT, Baylor, Texas-Arlington and Rice for fifth place.
Pacing the men was the one-two finish in the triple jump by Jason Edwards and Sean Clayton. Edwards took first with his jump of 49-11.25, while Clayton was a close second at 48-6.75. Clayton also grabbed eighth place in the long jump with a leap of 22-11.00.
In the pole vault, which has historically been one of UH's top events, the Cougars placed one, three and five, as Daniel Patton cleared 16-00.75 for top honors. Tom Rusteberg cleared 15-7.00 for third, while Jason Myers rounded out the Houston scoring with his fifth-place vault of 15-1.00.
Rounding out the Cougar scoring on the men's side was Robert Foster (fifth in the 60 meters, 6.85), Tom Harper (5th-800 meters, 1:55.95), Milton Manson (7th-60-meter hurdles, 8.26), Kevin Ward (6th-mile, 4:27.05), Alex Winstel (7th-mile, 4:29.64).
Next up for the Cougars is a trip to Baton Rouge next week, where both the men and women's squads will compete in the LSU Indoor Invitational on Saturday, January 26.
-UHCougars.com-
