LSC TRACK AND FIELD
The Lone Star Conference has three men’s teams in the top 25 including three in the top-eight in the national team computer rankings (April 24) conducted by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with No. 4 Abilene Christian, No. 7 Texas A&M-Kingsville and No. 8 Angelo State. On the women’s side, the LSC is represented by No. 15 ACU and No. 18 ASU.
TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Isaiah Samoei, Eastern New Mexico University, JR, Eldoret, Kenya, Iowa Western Community College
Samoei became the first Greyhound to ever notch an automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA Championship Meet. Samoei turned in a sixth place finish at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif. turning in a 29:20.11 in the men’s 10,000 meter run. He is now ranked first in the Lone Star Conference and sixth in Division II.
MEN’S FIELD
LeVance Williams, Abilene Christian University, SR, Colfax, La., Grant HS
Williams climbed to third in the DII national rankings in the long jump after recording a winning distance of 25-01.25 (7.65m) at Baylor’s Michael Johnson/Dr. Pepper Classic. His NCAA automatic qualifying leap was his third of the year, but last week’s season-best performance at UTEP of 25-02.75 (7.69m) was nullified due to a strong 8.0mps wind. Williams’ competition included student-athletes from Baylor, Texas State, and several DII schools. Jarvis Gotch a freshman out of South Plains finished second to Williams, hitting the sand at the 24-08.50 mark (7.53). The two DII long jumpers currently ranked ahead of Williams are Keenan Soles of Pittsburg State (25’ 7.25”, 7.80m), and Aaron Hill of Grand Canyon (25’ 2.5”, 7.68m).
CO-WOMEN’S TRACK
Shennae Steele, Abilene Christian University, JR, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary
Steele recorded a pair of season-best times in the 100m and 200m at last Saturday’s Michael Johnson/Dr. Pepper Classic that improved her DII national rankings to 13th and 11th in each event. Steele ran a 11.94 in the 100m, and a 24.33 in the 200m, both of which are below the NCAA provisional standard. She also helped the ACU 4x100m relay post a 14th-ranked time of 46.51. She was joined on the relay by Sydney Smith, Lexus Williams, and Karolyn Palmer.
Irma Garza, University of the Incarnate Word, FR, San Antonio, Texas, St. Anthony HS
Garza set an Incarnate Word school record and personal career best in the 1,500m at the Duckett Rice Twilight in Houston. The freshman finished sixth in a time of 4:32.66, which topped her previous best time by 11 seconds. She now has the top three 1,500 times in UIW history. Garza provisionally qualified for nationals with the time, which ranks 18th in NCAA Division II. She also gained her entry into the USATF Junior Nationals, an Olympic development program, set for this coming summer.
WOMEN’S FIELD
Aricela Alvarez, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, FR, Bishop, Texas, Bishop HS
Alvarez set a personal record in the triple jump by over a foot at the Rice Twilight Invitational. In the process, she took third place and provisionally qualified for nationals with a leap of 38-7.75 and is currently ranked second in the LSC.