Records Fall at Red Raider Invitational

Friday, January 18

Lubbock, Texas

All Day

University of Houston

Red Raider Invite

1/18/2019 9:54:00 PM | Track and Field

Final Results

Taylor Scaife, Men’s 4x4 post program’s best marks

Lubbock, Texas – The Houston Cougar Men's and Women's Track & Field teams won four events and set two program records at the Texas Tech Red Raider Invitational on Friday in Lubbock, Texas.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Houston saved perhaps its best show for last, wrapping up the meet with a historic effort in the 4x400-meter relay. The Cougar squad of Obi Igbokwe, Amere Lattin, Jermaine Holt and Kahmari Montgomery ran a combined eight laps around the track in a school-record 3:03.31 to take home the event. That time for the Cougars places them No. 1 in the NCAA this season in the relay.

A trio of Houston throwers put on a show to open competition on Friday, when Taylor Scaife, Priscilla Adejokun and Mikaila Martin finished one, two and four in the women's weight throw, respectively. Scaife broke her own school record in the event when her third attempt traveled 68-8.0 (20.93m), moving her to No. 10 in the country this season.

Adejokun posted the second-best mark in Houston history when her first attempt of the finals flew 63-10.5 (19.47m). Adejokun became just the second Cougar to break the 19-meter barrier and moved to No. 32 in the NCAA this season with the effort. Martin also set a personal best with a mark of 56-2.75 (18.41m), giving her the fifth-best mark in program history.

The Cougars qualified three sprinters for the finals of the men's and women's 60-meter dash. Mario Burke picked up Houston's first victory on the track after running 6.56 in the finals of the straight-track race. Burke's time converts to 6.58 with the elevation change and moves him into a tie for No. 2 all-time at Houston and also places him second in the NCAA this season.

For the women, Brianne Bethel picked up a podium finish in the 60, crossing the line in 7.43 to finish third, while Nicholas Alexander also qualified for the final for the men, finishing fourth in 6.74.

Houston saw a pair of Cougars qualify for the finals of the 60-meter hurdles with Amere Lattin on the men's side, and Naomi Taylor for the women. Lattin ran the third-fastest time in program history at 7.73 (converted from 7.71 for elevation) to take silver in the event, which moves him to No. 3 in the NCAA this season. Taylor ran 8.34 to finish fourth.

Houston's next win came from Cameron Laverty, who picked up his first victory of the season in the 800-meter run. Laverty finished the middle-distance event in 1:50.70 to take the gold and move to No. 5 in the NCAA this season. Christian Gilmore finished third in the 800 with a personal best of 1:51.37 to move to No. 10 in the NCAA.

In the middle distance, Britani Gonzales picked up a podium finish for the Cougars. Gonzales completed four laps around the track in a personal-best 2:13.06 to finish third in the 800-meter run. Gonzales' time places her 40^th in the nation.

Senior jumper Trumaine Jefferson made his season debut with a third-place finish in the men's long jump. Jefferson's only mark of the day traveled 24-7.25 (7.50m) to place him third in the competition and move him to No. 19 in the NCAA this season.

Freshman Eddie Sumler IV took second in the morning session of the 200-meter dash. Sumler finished one lap around the track in 21.41, which moves him to No. 24 in the NCAA this season.

In the vertical jumps, Hawa Wague picked up a bronze in the women's high jump. Wague went up-and-over the bar at a season-best 5-7.0 (1.70m).

The Cougars wrapped up the throws at the Red Raider Invitational with a runner-up finish for Felipe Valencia in the shot put. Valencia used his final attempt to throw 59-2.25 (18.04m) to take second, while Triston Gibbons placed fourth with a mark of 55-7.75 (16.96m).

FOLLOW THE COUGARS
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