University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Houston Invitational
Houston Sweeps 60-Meter Dash in Houston Invitational
1/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
HOUSTON - Houston's Mario Burke and Tori Williams swept the 60-meter dash in both the men's and women's divisions to lead the Cougars Saturday in the Houston Invitational at Bill Yeoman Fieldhouse.
Williams narrowly missed a PR with a winning time of 7.47 in the women's sprint final as Houston swept the top two spots in the event with teammate Kelli Hardnett running a personal-best 7.56.
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Williams qualified for the final by winning the event's second semifinal with a personal-best 7.46, a time that ranks third in The American Athletic Conference. She was joined in the semifinal by Hardnett who ran 7.60 to qualify for the finals on time.
Burke completed the 60-meter sweep just minutes later as he blazed down the straightaway in a personal-best time of 6.72, holding steady to his No. 4 ranking in The American. Burke was one of three Houston competitors in the final as James Arnett took sixth at 6.91 and Marcus McWilliams was eighth at 7.01.
The three qualified for the finals with Burke winning his semifinal with a time of 6.76 while McWilliams (6.90) and Arnett (6.94) both qualified on time.
The American's top 60-meter hurdler, senior Isaac Williams recorded the top collegiate time in the event's final Saturday, crossing the finish line at 7.86. Two of Williams' freshmen teammates were the only other collegiate qualifiers for the events finals as Amere Lattin covered the distance in 7.92 while McWilliams clocked in at 7.92.
Williams automatically qualified for the finals by winning the third semifinal heat with a time of 7.89, edging McWilliams who ran a PR of 7.90. Lattin also qualified for the finals on time with a semifinal run of 7.99. McWilliams' semifinal time gave the first-year Cougar the second-fastest time in The American this season, behind just Williams as the two, along with Lattin, hold the top three teams in the conference this season.
The Houston women's 4x400-meter relay of Hardnett, Williams, Ebony White and Mayorca Young took second in the event with a time of 3:50.30, winning the event's first heat.
Already owning The American's top time this season, the men's 4x400-meter relay finished third with a time of 3:20.08. The quartet of Raymund Clarke, Curtis Brown, Burke and LeShon Collins was neck-in-neck in the first heat with Stephen F. Austin, who entered the weekend with the 18th-fastest time nationally, before Collins pulled away after the Lumberjacks' anchor leg lost control of the baton on turn one of the track.
Sophomore Diayja Sheppard took third in the women's high jump, clearing the bar at 5-8.75 (1.75) on her third attempt.
The women's long jump saw both Felicienne Axel and Paige Lawrence record PR jumps of 19-0.00 (5.79) to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.
The American leader in the shot put, Felipe Valencia was the top collegiate finisher in the event Saturday, ending the day with a top throw of 57-3.50 (17.46).
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Houston returns to action next weekend with the Charlie Thomas Invitational at College Station, Texas. The two-day event kicks off Friday at 2:30 p.m. inside the Gilliam Indoor Track & Field Stadium.
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