HOUSTON - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi track and field teams closed out the regular season with two event titles at the Rice Invitational Saturday in Houston.
"We did a lot of things really well today," noted head coach Shawn Flanagan. "This meet was very encouraging as we get ready to go to the Southland Conference meet."
Freshman Kemar Mowatt continued his dominance in the 200-meter dash with his third individual win of his young career. The Kingston, Jamaica native posted a time of 21.54 as he edged Javier Lopez of Texas A&M-Kingsville for the victory.
Another freshman that stood out on the day was James Whiteside. Throughout the indoor and outdoor season Whiteside has continued to make strides in the jumping arena and today was no different as he picked up his second win of the year in the triple jump with a mark of 14.08 meters. A Corpus Christi, Texas native, Whiteside also finished first in the triple jump during the Islanders Open.
For the second straight week, junior Ebony Collins dominated a short distance race. The San Antonio, Texas native finished second in the 100 meter event at 11.80 seconds setting a new personal best and tying the sixth-best time in school history.
Two freshmen on the men's side dominated the 800-meter race. Picking up his first career win, Bryce Johnston cruised with a time of 1:54.59, a new personal best. Finishing fourth was Corpus Christi, Texas native Jaran Cadena who finished with a time of 1:56.43.
On the women's side of the 800-meter race, senior Jasmine McCoy placed fifth overall as well as running the third best time in school history at 2:12.38.
Taylor Hawes ran a personal best by six seconds in the 1500 with a time of 4:46.92.
Jackson Davis took fifth in the 400 hurdles with a time of 53.09 while Andres Salazar finished fifth in the 400-meter race with a time of 48.06. Angelo Garland followed close behind Salazar in eighth after finishing in 48.18. Davis, Salazar and gardland each posted new personal bests in the event.
Kaelin Simmons and Omesha Locke shined for the Islanders in the women's discus. Simmons just missed a personal best as she finished fourth in a field loaded with talent with a mark of 44.23 meters. Locke finished just behind her teammate in sixth place with a throw of 42.63 meters.
Senior Brandi Huff threw the sixth-best mark in school history in the shot put to conclude the evening on her way to a fifth-place finish in the event. With her throw of 13.72 meters, Huff just missed her season best mark.
In the steeplechase, senior Vanessa Galindo closed out her regular-season career with a third place finish with a time of 11:28.40, setting a new personal best in the event by 20 seconds.
In the nightcap 5000-meter race, Liz Romo and Regina Salinas ran very well for the Islanders. Romo (18:18.21) took fifth while Salinas (18:29.54) finished sixth, respectively. On the men's side, Cesar Gonzalez finished ninth with a time of 15:25.56.
Click HERE for complete results.
The teams will have next weekend off as they prepare for the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships hosted by Southeastern Louisiana May 8-10.
For the latest information, follow the teams on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersTFXC) and Facebook (Texas A&M Corpus Christi Track & Field/Cross Country). Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Islanders Front Row App at GoIslanders.com/frontrow.
