University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
USATF Jr/Sr Championships
Burke Wins Barbados National Championship
6/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
WATERFORD, St. Michael, Barbados â€" Sophomore sprinter Mario Burke was crowned the 2017 Barbados National Champion in the 100-meter dash as the Houston Cougar Men's and Women's Track & Field teams continued competition at three separate national championship meets on Saturday.
Burke qualified for the semifinals of the 100-meter dash on Friday when he cruised to a win in the first heat, running 10.51. The Bridgetown, Barbados, native would return to the track and run 10.46 in the semis to post the second-fastest mark and earn a berth in the finals.
With a trip to the IAAF World Championships on the line in the finals, Burke exploded across the line in 10.12 to claim the national championship by a tenth of a second. With the win, Burke punches his second ticket to the world championship meet after being a member of the 4x100-meter relay squad that took silver at the IAAF World Relays earlier this year.
Burke will be back in action at the Barbados National Championships when he competes in the preliminary round of the 200-meter dash at 2:40 p.m. CT, Sunday.
Sophomore Amere Lattin hit the track at the USATF Outdoor Championships on Saturday, competing in the second heat of the 110-meter hurdles. Lattin crossed the finish line in 13.91 to place fourth in the heat and book the 16th best time heading into Sunday's semifinal race. Lattin will return to action in the semis at 3:04 p.m., CT.
Junior Eli Hall made his return to the track to wrap up Saturday's action for the Cougars at the USATF Outdoor Championships in the 200-meter dash. Competing in heat two, Hall crossed the line ahead of the competition in 20.60 to post the eighth fastest overall time heading into the semifinals. Hall will return to action at 2 p.m., Sunday with a trip to the finals on the line.
Freshman Brianne Bethel wrapped her competition at the Bahamas National Championship, competing in the final of the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Racing among her nation's top athletes, Bethel took fifth in the 100 in 11.72 before returning to place sixth in the 200 at 23.85.
Bethel will head to London for the IAAF World Championships after helping lead the Bahamas to a sixth place finish and an automatic qualifying berth in the 4x100-meter relay at the IAAF World Relays earlier this season.
SEE IT LIVE
Live action of Sunday's USATF Outdoor Championships will be available on NBC. Coverage will begin at 3 p.m. CT, and run through the conclusion of the meet.
Live results for the USATF national meet will also be available and can be found by clicking HERE.
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Players Mentioned
