University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
J. Fred Duckett Twilight Invitational
Burke, Collins Atop Podium at IAAF World Relays
4/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
HOUSTON â€" Houston alum LeShon Collins and sophomore Mario Burke led their countries to gold and silver medals, respectively, at the IAAF World Relay Championships, while a pair of Cougars won at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight Invitational on Saturday.
WORLD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Burke began his day at the relay championships in Nassau, Bahamas, in the preliminary round of the 4x100-meter relay while representing his native country of Barbados. Burke's squad ran 39.26 in heat 3 to reach the final round. Team USA qualified in 38.22, to allow Collins to join the squad for the final.
With USA in lane four, and Barbados in lane eight for the final, each Cougar led their countries on the opening leg of the final. The Americans crossed the finish line in 38.43 to take the gold, while the Barbadians finished in 39.18 to take the silver.
With their qualifications and finishes, Collins and Burke helped their countries qualify for the IAAF World Championships in August in London, England.
Freshman Brianne Bethel will represent the host country, the Bahamas, in the women's 4x100-meter relay on Sunday at 7 p.m., Sunday.
J. FRED DUCKETT TWILIGHT INVITATIONAL
Back home in Houston, a pair of Cougar sprinters won their events at the Twilight Invitational, hosted by Rice. On the straight track, freshman Sierra Smith picked up a victory in the 100-meter dash. Smith crossed the line in 11.66 to win the race.
Freshman Birexus Hawkins set a new personal best on Saturday en route to winning the 400-meter dash. Hawkins finished the quarter mile in 54.07 to climb to No. 73 on the NCAA rankings list this season.
A duo of Houston jumpers took home runner-up finishes at Rice on Saturday. In the men's long jump, junior Antwan Dickerson leapt 24-1.5 (7.35m) to take second, while in the pole vault, sophomore Haley Houston went up-and-over the bar at 12-1.25 (3.69m).
With one of its top legs competing internationally in Burke, the Cougar men's 4x100-meter relay team took silver at Rice. The squad of John Lewis III, Daniel Ford, Colin George and Jared Kerr crossed the line second in 39.90.
Jennifer Dunlap picked up a podium for the distance crew while competing in the 1,500-meter run. Dunlap finished the nearly 4-lap race in 4:35.50 to place third.
In the men's pole vault, Hayden Flores picked up another bronze performance for the Cougars. Flores went up-and-over the bar at 14-11.0 (4.55m) to set a new season best.
Sophomore Cameron Prejean tallied Houston's final podium finish of the night. A triple jumper by trade, Prejean took third in the 100-meter dash, when he crossed the line in 10.58.
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Players Mentioned
