University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Mark Colligan Memorial
Eli Hall Breaks 200-Meter School Record
1/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
LINCOLN, Neb. â€" Competing in his first meet with the Cougars, junior transfer Eli Hall broke the school record in the 200-meters, as the Houston Cougar Men's and Women's Track & Field Teams competed at the Mark Colligan Memorial on Saturday, in Lincoln, Neb.
HALL'S RECORD SETTING RUN
Houston welcomed Eli Hall to campus as a mid-year transfer from Butler Community College, and the Katy, Texas, native wasted no time in leaving his mark on the record books. After a runner-up finish in the 60-meter dash earlier in the day, Hall was on the track again for the 200 as the meet wound down. The 2016 U.S. Olympic Trial qualifier crossed the line in 20.71 to win the race and clock the No. 2 time in the world this season according to IAAF.org.
BURRELL KEEPS WINNING
Senior Cameron Burrell has competed in three different meets this season, coming away with wins in each. After concentrating on the sprints at home in the Leonard Hilton Invitational, Burrell was back on the runway for the long jump in Nebraska. On his third leap of the day, Burrell jumped 24-5.50 (7.45m) to clinch victory by nearly six inches.
Burrell, who was named American Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week for his performance in the long jump at the Texas A&M Reveille Invitational, also competed in the 200, where he finished second behind Hall in a personal best 21.18. His mark in the 200 ranks No. 16 in the NCAA this season, giving him top-25 rankings in three separate events (long jump, 60).
BURKE BREAKS THROUGH
Sophomore sprinter Mario Burke came up just short in the 60-meter dash at the Leonard Hilton Invitational, finishing as the runner-up behind his teammate Burrell. However, Burke found an extra gear on Saturday, winning the event in 6.65 to clock the third fastest time in school history.
Competition was still fierce in the event, as Burke just edged Hall in the race, taking the timing down to the thousandth place at 6.641 to 6.648 respectively. Houston now has three sprinters ranked inside the top-10 in the NCAA in the event with Burke and Hall tied for sixth, while Burrell sits at No. 10.
LATTIN LEAVES LITTLE DOUBT
Sophomore hurdler Amere Lattin was back on the track at the Mark Colligan Memorial, competing in the 60-meter hurdles for the third time this season. The 2016 American Conference Outdoor Champion in both the 100- and 400-meter hurdles ran the only sub-8 second time in the preliminary rounds, qualifying with a 7.87 before returning to run 7.93 in the finals to clinch the event.
SCAIFE'S MONSTER MARK
Sophomore thrower Taylor Scaife climbed another notch among the all-time leaders in the weight throw with her win at the Mark Colligan Memorial on Saturday. Already ranked third in program history in the event entering competition, Scaife improved on her personal best with a mark of 61-0.25 (18.60m) to match the second best mark in school history set by Amanda Villanueva in 2007. Scaife's personal best sits just 15.5 inches shy of the school record mark set on Feb. 23, 2013 by Emily Nnokwam.
CORNELIUS STAYS PERFECT
Since returning to the shot put ring for the first time since season-ending surgery a year ago, Cameron Cornelius has competed in three events. The Deer Park, Texas, native has now tallied wins in all-three competitions after picking up a victory on Saturday. Cornelius needed just one throw to set the pace, marking 58-11.25 (17.96m) to win the competition by over two feet.
BARRAZA'S RETURN TO THE MILE
Senior Brian Barraza made his return to competition on Saturday, just over a month after breaking the school-record in the mile. Barraza already owns the nation's fastest time in the event, and while not as dramatic, he ran 4:06.07 to win by nearly four seconds.
CLOSE SECONDS
Including Burrell and Hall in the 200 and 60 respectively, Houston finished Saturday's competition with nine second-place finishes.
Senior sprinter Tori Williams tallied a pair of runner-up finishes at the Memorial, taking second in both the 60 and 200. Williams ran 7.45 on the straight track, and 23.80 on the 200-meter loop. William's time in the 200 ranks her No. 16 among collegiate competitors.
Competing in the rarely-seen 600-meter run, senior Mandy Nolan ran 1:35.35 to finish just behind Payton Barker of Oklahoma. Teammate Kristina Knowles finished right on Nolan's heels in 1:35.91 to take third.
In the horizontal jumps, freshman Samiyah Samuels and sophomore Tonye'cia Burks each tallied a second-place finish. In the long jump, Samuels leapt 18-9.75 (5.73m) on her fifth attempt to set her mark, while Burks's third attempt in the triple jump went 40-10.25 (12.45m).
Senior thrower Damon Thompson picked up Houston's final runner-up finish of the night in the weight throw. Already the school record holder in the event, Thompson threw 61-5.75 (18.74m) on his final attempt to wrap up second place.
TEAM SCORES
Women
1. Oklahoma, 184.5 points
2. Nebraska, 140 points
3. Houston, 105 points
4. Wichita State, 98.5 points
Men
1. Nebraska, 161 points
2. Houston, 135.5 points
3. Oklahoma, 134.5 points
4. Wichita State, 102 points
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
The Cougars return home for their first 2-day meet of the 2017 season, when they host the Houston Invitational on Jan. 27-28 inside the Yeoman Fieldhouse.
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Players Mentioned
