Houston Books Five More Championship Bids

5/27/2018 3:00:00 PM | Track and Field

Lattin, Bethel book second trips, Alexander earns first berth

HOUSTON – The Houston Cougar Men's and Women's Track & Field teams earned five more berths to the NCAA Championships as they wrapped competition at the NCAA West Regional on Saturday in Sacramento, Calif.

In total, Houston will see 13 individuals (the regional qualifiers as well as Nathaniel Mechler, who automatically qualified for the decathlon) and two relays make their way back west for the NCAA Championships, to be held June 6-9 in Eugene, Ore.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Houston men opened the day on the track beginning the defense of their NCAA Championship in the 4x100-meter relay. The Cougar squad of John Lewis III, Mario Burke, Nicholas Alexander and Cameron Burrell circled one lap around the track in 39.40 to win the third heat and book an automatic qualifying position to Oregon.

Amere Lattin returned to the track on Saturday for the quarterfinals of the 110-meter hurdles, after already booking a trip to Oregon in the 400-meter hurdles, on Friday. Despite a strong start, Lattin took a tumble over the finish line, but still crossed the line in 13.77 to finish second and earn an automatic qualifying position.

Alexander would also find himself back on the track, this time as an individual in the men's 200-meter hurdles. Running in the second heat, the freshman would circle a half-lap around the track in 20.90 to finish third in the heat and book his first trip to the NCAA Championships.

Brianne Bethel was the final Cougar individual on the track for Houston in Sacramento, running in the third heat of the 200-meter dash. After qualifying in the 100-meter dash on Friday, the sophomore would punch her second ticket to the NCAA Finals on Saturday after finishing third in her heat at 23.01.

Houston's final championship qualification came by way of the men's 4x400-meter relay. The Cougar squad of Lattin, Trumaine Jefferson, Cameron Burrell and Kahmari Montgomery combined for four laps around the track in 3:03.67 to win the third heat and qualify third overall for the championships in Oregon.

Junior Taylor Scaife opened action in the throws with her second-career trip to the West Regional in the hammer throw. Scaife used her final attempt to throw 189-8 (57.83m) to place 27th.

Also in the throws, Jack Thomas made his debut at the NCAA West Regionals with a 21st-place finish in the men's javelin. Thomas' final attempt traveled 207-11 (63.37m) for his meet-best.

In the men's shot put, junior Felipe Valencia just missed booking a trip to the NCAA Championships with his 16th-place finish. Valencia's final throw traveled 60-0.5 (18.30m).

After a tough final exchange, the women's 4x100-meter relay team ran 45.19 to place 19th, while the 4x400-meter relay squad took 23rd in 3:44.56.

In the high jump, Colin George cleared the bar at 6-7.0 (2.01m) to finish 40th.

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