University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
NCAA West Prelims
Lattin, Martin and 4x1 Relay Headed to Nationals
5/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
AUSTIN -- Sophomores Amere Lattin and Jacarias Martin punched tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, while the 4x100-meter relay squad also booked its trip, on the final day of the NCAA West Regional, on Saturday.
The Houston men's 4x100-meter relay opened Saturday night's running events, where the Cougars were on the track in heat three. Houston's squad of Mario Burke, Cameron Burrell, Jacarias Martin and John Lewis III circled one lap on the track in 39.16 to finish second in the heat and earn an automatic qualifying berth to the NCAA Championships.
Houston's 4x100-meter relay squad entered the weekend with the second fastest time in the NCAA this season at 38.59, which they ran at the Mt. SAC Relays in April. The Cougars' relay team returns to Eugene, Ore., where they finished as the silver medalists in 2016 after setting a school record in 38.44.
Sophomore Amere Lattin booked his second ticket to Oregon on Saturday. Just one day after Lattin qualified for the championships in the 400-meter hurdles, he was back on the track for the quarterfinals of the 110-meter hurdles. In the straight-track race, Lattin ran 13.86 to finish fourth in the final heat and 11th overall. Lattin returns to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where he finished fifth as a freshman in the 110-meter hurdles in 2016.
Martin became the final Cougar individual to book a ticket to the NCAA Championships after qualifying on time in the 200-meter dash. Martin crossed the line in 20.49 to finish fourth in the third heat and earn the 11th qualifying position. The trip to Oregon will be the first for Martin as an individual, although he competed as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team last season.
Senior sprinter Tori Williams wrapped the running events for the Cougar women at the regional on Saturday. After qualifying 23rd overall in the 200-meter dash, Williams ran the quarterfinal in 23.48 to place her 20th.
Action on the final day of the regional began with the men's triple jump where junior Jared Kerr entered the competition for just the second time in his career. The American Athletic Conference champion in the event, Kerr used his second attempt to leap 51-3.5 (15.61m) and place 18th.
REGIONAL RECAP
On Friday, Houston saw a pair of sprinters punch their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Junior Cameron Burrell posted the competitions' top time when he crossed the line in 9.95 to win heat one, while sophomore Mario Burke qualified on time at 10.21.
Burrell finished fifth in the 100-meter dash championship in 2016 and will make his third appearance as an individual at the event, while Burke will head to Eugene for the first time as an individual.
Amere Lattin punched his first of two tickets on the weekend after running the 400-meter hurdles on Friday. In the full-lap hurdle race, Lattin crossed the finish line in 50.59 and earned an automatic qualifying berth.
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