Thomas Makes History At Victor Lopez Classic

HOUSTON, Texas - A day removed from setting a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi record in the hammer throw, Diamond Thomas capped off an already huge weekend at the Victor Lopez Classic with new Islander bests in the discus and shot put.

Thomas' 51.63m in the discus was enough to take first in the event, and is the first performance in program history to breach the 50-meter mark. Her toss ranks 20th in the NCAA West Region this season and sits third among Southland Conference athletes in 2018. Thomas' distance sat just a few spots ahead of fellow thrower Kaelin Simmons, who set a personal record of her own in fifth place (46.09m).

Thomas' day wouldn't end with the discus, as the Houston product went on to set another program record in the shot put. Finishing fourth overall, the Blue and Green thrower turned in a toss of 14.60m to beat the PR of 14.47 she recorded at the UTSA Invitational just a week ago.

The Islanders had a good day from the circle on the men's side as well, as Logan Robinson posted a 15.38m in the shot put, to collect a seventh-place finish and a new personal record. 

Staying in the field, freshman James Manders cleared a height of 4.90m in the pole vault to take third in the event, while Sashane Hanson's mark of 1.69m in the high jump was enough to win the event for the junior.

Corpus Christi set multiple PRs on the final day of the Victor Lopez, with Islander athletes De Kwan Wynn (6.48m), Bryan Wersterfer (6.34m) and Lauren Brown (5.45m) all collecting new personal bests in the long jump. 

Kendall Rodriguez continues to improve on her 400m hurdles time, setting a personal record in the event for a second straight week, as her 1:03.17 clinched sixth in the event and is the third fastest in Islander history. Sophomore Kevin Jaymez collected a new 400m hurdles PR as well, with his time of 56.31 finishing seventh overall in the event.

Top Islander Performances

Women's Discus
1. Diamond Thomas (51.63m) PR & SR
5. Kaelin Simmons (46.09m) PR

Women's High Jump
1. Sashane Hanson (1.69m)

Men's Pole Vault
3. James Manders (4.90m)

Women's Shot Put
4. Diamond Thomas (14.60m) PR & SR

Women's 400m Hurdles
6. Kendall Rodriguez (1:03.17) PR

Men's 400m Hurdles
7. Kevin Jaymez (56.31) PR

Men's Shot Put
7. Logan Robinson (15.38m) PR

Men's 800m
12. Rashawn Black (1:56.42) PR

Men's Triple Jump 
12. De Kwan Wynn (13.04m) PR

Women's Long Jump 
16. Lauren Brown (5.45m) PR

Men's Long Jump
17. De Kwan Wynn (6.48m) PR 
18. Bryan Wersterfer (6.34m) PR

Men's 110m Hurdles
18. Bryan Wersterfer (16.26) PR

Women's 800m
34. Liz Williams (2:37.28) PR

COMING UP NEXT
Corpus Christi looks on toward the Texas Relays this following week, with high school events set to start this Wednesday. The Islander men and women finished 14th and 11th respectively in last year's meet in Austin, where high jumpers Zhafear Ray and Sashane Hanson both claimed podium spots.

For more information on Islanders track and field, follow the team on Twitter (@IslandersTFXC), Instagram (@go_islanders) and like their Facebook page (Islanders Track & Field/Cross Country).
- Go Islanders -