17 Podium Finishes Highlight Cougars at Victor Lopez Classic

HOUSTON– The University of Houston Track and Field program closed the Victor Lopez Classic with 10 first-place finishes, 15 personal bests and five Top-10 marks in the nation on Saturday from the Wendel D. Ley Track on the campus of Rice University.

FIELD EVENTS
To start the day, freshman Cordell Nwokeji won the shot put, throwing a personal best of 18.27 (59'-11.25) meters. This mark earned him the ninth-best throw in outdoor school history and the No. 10 throw in the nation. Nwokeji also finished second in his first collegiate discus throw at 50.86 (166'-10) meters.

Houston continued its success in throws as junior Kevin Grubbs placed first in the men's discus with a throw of 56.46m.

In the women's shot put, freshman Paris Kimble threw a personal best distance of 14.26 (46'-9.5) meters to place third.

In the men's long jump, senior Caleb Malbrough finished first with a personal-best jump of 7.41 (24'-3.75) meters, the 24^th-best mark in the nation. Freshman Jay Avery placed second with his jump of 7.17 (23'-6.25) meters.

Graduate Destiny Lawrence finished third in the women's triple jump with a mark of 12.55m (41'-2.25).

In the men's high jump, junior My'Kell Beck claimed first with his clearance of 2.10 (6'-10.74) meters. Beck is now tied for No. 18 in the nation in the high jump.

RUNNING EVENTS
Running events began with a first-place finish for Houston's "B" 4x100-meter relay of freshmen Nicholas Byrd and King Micah Scales, senior Ireon Brown and sophomore Jaden Brown with a time of 39.94.

Graduate MiKenna Robinson made her Houston outdoor debut as she placed third in the 800-meter, crossing the finish line at 2:10.75.

Junior Miracle Thompson won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.61 for her first outdoor event as a Cougar. In the men's 110-meter hurdles, freshman Logan Lyght earned second place with a time of 14.24.

The Cougars excelled in the 400-meters, posting several national top times. On the men's side, junior Trey East III finished first with a time of 46.23. His mark is the fifth fastest time in the nation.

Graduate Kelly-Ann Beckford won the women's 400-meter in her outdoor season debut. Beckford's 52.79 was a personal best, as she recorded the seventh-fastest time in outdoor school history and the ninth-best time in the nation.

In the women's 400-meter hurdles, graduate Sydni Townsend finished first at 57.17. In the young outdoor season, her mark is the fastest time in the nation and the No. 10 time in the world. This is the second time a Cougar placed in the Top-10 in the world in an event this year.

Two Cougars finished on the podium in the men's 400-meter hurdles as junior Dillon Leacock won the event, crossing the line at 51.33 for a personal best and the No. 10 time in the nation. Junior Nakoah Witt placed third with a time of 53.21.

After setting a meet record at the Kirk Baptiste Spring Break Invitational, freshman Michaela Mouton continued her winning ways as she won the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.35.

To close the meet for the Cougars, the men's 4x400-meter relay of freshman Joshua Sims-Waddy, Byrd, Witt and East III placed second with a time of 3:10.39.

UP NEXT
Houston will travel to Austin, Texas, for the 96^th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field beginning Wednesday. For more information, fans can click here.

Following the Texas Relays, the Cougars will return to the Carl Lewis International Complex on Saturday, April 6, for the Cameron Burrell Alumni Invitational. All former University of Houston track and field/cross country alumni are invited to attend the meet and can RSVP by emailing Mikaila Martin (mamart58@cougarnet.uh.edu).

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Track and Field by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining the Podium Club which provides support directly to Houston Track and Field for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
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