Garza, Samuels Win at Mt. SAC Relays

Friday, April 14

Torrance, Calif.

All Day

University of Houston

Mt. SAC Relays

4/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field

April 15, 2017

HOUSTON Ã¢â‚¬" Senior thrower Alex Garza won the shot put, while freshman Samiyah Samuels claimed the long jump as the Cougars split squad to compete at the Mt. SAC Relays and The Beach Invitational on Friday in California.

SHOT PUT CHAMPION
Competing for just the second time during the outdoor season, Garza wasted no time setting a new career best in the event. The senior's top mark flew 59-0.0 (17.98m) to earn him the gold medal. Garza's mark moves him to No. 61 in the NCAA this season.

SAMUELS GETS THE EDGE IN THE LONG JUMP
Samuels was locked in a tight competition that saw the top-7 competitors finish within eight inches of each other. Samuels qualified for the finals on her third attempt with a mark of 19-8.75 (6.01m) to move past Madisen Richards of USC and take the lead. Samuels would match the mark on her sixth and final attempt to seal the victory.

Junior Tonye'cia Burks also posted a top-5 finish in the event. Burks jumped 19-5.5 (5.93m) to finish fourth. In the men's long jump, Antwan Dickerson leaped 23-8.0 (7.21m) to finish sixth, while freshman multi-athlete Nate Mechler finished eight in 22-11.25 (6.99m).

SPRINTERS POST TOP-10 TIMES
Sophomore Raymund Clarke opened the sprints with a top-10 finish in the 400-meter dash. Clarke crossed the line in 47.74 to finish eighth in the event. Sophomore Mario Burke would follow with the sixth fastest time in the 100-meter dash. Burke posted his top time this season in the event after crossing the line in 10.42.

A pair of women's sprinters posted top-10 marks in the women's 200-meter dash. Freshman Brianne Bethel finished ninth with a time of 23.73, just edging senior Tori Williams who ran 23.74 to place 10th.

STILL TO COME THIS WEEKEND
Action on the final day in California begins at 9 a.m., at The Beach Invite with the 1,500-meter run. Houston's third day of competition at the Mt. SAC Relays kicks off with the long jump at 1 p.m.

UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
The Cougars return to Houston for the J. Fred Duckett Twilight Invitational, hosted by Rice. The meet will be held Saturday, April 22, at the Wendell D. Ley Track Stadium.

FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the Track & Field team has established its own official Facebook (facebook.com/HoustonCougarTrackandField) and Twitter pages ().