Friday, January 13
Houston, Texas
University of Houston
vs
Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational
Photo by: Joe Buvid
Cougars Win Seven Events in Opener
1/13/2023 6:22:00 PM | Track and Field
Seagreaves breaks meet record, six other Cougars win events at Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational
HOUSTON – The University of Houston track and field team opened its 2023 season with seven event wins at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational inside Yeoman Fieldhouse on Friday highlighted by a meet record in the 3,000 meters by senior Brandon Seagreaves.
The first event win of the season came from newcomer PJ Harris III in the high jump. The Compton, Calif., native cleared 2.00 meters to win the event.
The Cougars shined in the 60-meter events, with junior Shaun Maswanganyi winning the 60-meter dash, sophomore Destiny Smith winning the 60-meter hurdles and junior De'Vion Wilson claiming the men's 60 hurdles title.
Maswanganyi's 6.67 second time in the 60 currently ranks fourth nationally and Wilson's 7.82 time ranks sixth nationally in the 60 hurdles.
Building off his strong cross country campaign, Seagreaves won the 3,000 in 8 minutes, 28.52 seconds, capturing the event by a full five seconds.
Fellow distance runner, graduate Devin Vallejo-Bannister won the 800-meter run in 1:52.36.
The final meet win of the day came from sophomore Trey East III in the 200-meter dash in 21.38, winning by 0.23 seconds.
Houston posted 10 other podium finishes, two of which came from the 1,600-meter relay at the end of the day with both Cougar relay squads finishing second overall.
In her collegiate debut, freshman Aubrey Tupper finished third in the high jump, and graduate Priscilla Adejokun posted a strong mark in the weight throw with a throw of 21.17 meters.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will stay in Houston for two more weeks, hosting the Robert Platt Invitational on Jan. 20 in Yeoman Fieldhouse. The meet is the second of three straight home meets for the Cougars.
ABOUT LEONARD HILTON
Leonard Hilton was a University of Houston track and field letterman from 1967-71, was a member of the 1972 United States Olympic team and two-time American champion in the mile in 1973 and 1975 . In addition to earning the distinction as the first native Texan to run a sub-four-minute mile, Hilton was also the anchor of the Cougars' relay team that set a world record in the indoor distance medley relay in 1970.
Originally from Hillsboro, Texas, and a graduate of Austin High School in Houston, Hilton became the first Cougar miler to break the four-minute barrier. He accomplished that feat a stunning 32 times in official competitions. Hilton made the Olympic team in 1972 as a runner in the 5,000 meters. At the Olympic Trials in a Eugene, Oregon, Hilton battled Steve Prefontaine in the 5,000 before finishing third in the event.
Hilton, earned his degree in engineering from UH and later served as vice president of operations with Kinder Morgan Energy and Enron Corp. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in spring of 1999 and passed away in 2000.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
The first event win of the season came from newcomer PJ Harris III in the high jump. The Compton, Calif., native cleared 2.00 meters to win the event.
The Cougars shined in the 60-meter events, with junior Shaun Maswanganyi winning the 60-meter dash, sophomore Destiny Smith winning the 60-meter hurdles and junior De'Vion Wilson claiming the men's 60 hurdles title.
Maswanganyi's 6.67 second time in the 60 currently ranks fourth nationally and Wilson's 7.82 time ranks sixth nationally in the 60 hurdles.
Building off his strong cross country campaign, Seagreaves won the 3,000 in 8 minutes, 28.52 seconds, capturing the event by a full five seconds.
Fellow distance runner, graduate Devin Vallejo-Bannister won the 800-meter run in 1:52.36.
The final meet win of the day came from sophomore Trey East III in the 200-meter dash in 21.38, winning by 0.23 seconds.
Houston posted 10 other podium finishes, two of which came from the 1,600-meter relay at the end of the day with both Cougar relay squads finishing second overall.
In her collegiate debut, freshman Aubrey Tupper finished third in the high jump, and graduate Priscilla Adejokun posted a strong mark in the weight throw with a throw of 21.17 meters.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will stay in Houston for two more weeks, hosting the Robert Platt Invitational on Jan. 20 in Yeoman Fieldhouse. The meet is the second of three straight home meets for the Cougars.
ABOUT LEONARD HILTON
Leonard Hilton was a University of Houston track and field letterman from 1967-71, was a member of the 1972 United States Olympic team and two-time American champion in the mile in 1973 and 1975 . In addition to earning the distinction as the first native Texan to run a sub-four-minute mile, Hilton was also the anchor of the Cougars' relay team that set a world record in the indoor distance medley relay in 1970.
Originally from Hillsboro, Texas, and a graduate of Austin High School in Houston, Hilton became the first Cougar miler to break the four-minute barrier. He accomplished that feat a stunning 32 times in official competitions. Hilton made the Olympic team in 1972 as a runner in the 5,000 meters. At the Olympic Trials in a Eugene, Oregon, Hilton battled Steve Prefontaine in the 5,000 before finishing third in the event.
Hilton, earned his degree in engineering from UH and later served as vice president of operations with Kinder Morgan Energy and Enron Corp. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in spring of 1999 and passed away in 2000.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
– UHCougars.com –
Players Mentioned
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Sprints
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Jumps
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Sprints/Jumps
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Distance
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Hurdles
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Pole Vault
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Distance
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