War Hawks improve nationally-ranked marks at UIW Invitational

SAN ANTONIO – McMurry Track & Field had 50 entries in a wide variety of events, setting numerous personal records and improving national and regional rankings at the University of the Incarnate Word's UIW Invitational this weekend in San Antonio.

The most notable result came in the men's 4x400 relay, as the team of Jacob Williams, Jayden Sloan, Dazhaun Walton and Michael Limones ran their fastest time of the season at 3:15.13 – almost a second faster than its previous season best. The War Hawks' 4x400 has been ranked first in the nation since February.

A number of crossover athletes competed for the first time this season, including multiple members of the football team and both Jada Morris and Taya Bridges from the women's basketball program.

INTERACTIVE RESULTS l PDF RESULTS

Track Highlights:

Sophomore Jayden Sloan set another personal record at the meet, moving up the national rankings with a time of 21.67 in the men's 200. He currently ranks seventh in the nation. Dazhaun Walton had a time of 21.97 and ranks 20th nationally.
On the women's side, three War Hawks ran in the 800 and 1500 meter runs, led by sophomore Niigan Sunray with times of 2:32.61 and 5:20.44, respectively. Both are collegiate bests.
Freshman pair John Rodriguez and Abram Maldonado each had their best runs of the season in the men's 800 and 1500. Maldonado edged his teammate in the 800 at 2:04.35, while Rodriguez led the way in the 1500 at 4:22.98. Maldonado was off by a hair at 4:22.99.
Sophomore Taya Bridges ran her first women's 100 meter dash since last year, recording a time of 13.97 for a new personal best. Bridges is a sophomore on the basketball court but competes for just the second time on the track.
Freshman Tripp Collins had his fastest 5K of the track season with a time of 18:05.19.
Senior Cahlyl Rossin ran a time of 11.92 in his men's 100 meter season debut.

Field Highlights:

Sophomore Ellie Ryan had an incredible meet with two personal bests on the throws side, tossing a 37.45m mark in the discus and a 42.56m mark in the hammer. In the American Southwest Conference, she currently ranks first in the hammer and second in the discus, shot put and javelin. She remains nationally ranked in the javelin in 19th place.
Freshman Vern Angton III – an all-conference football offensive lineman – made a stellar debut with a 44.79 mark in the discus and a 10.18m throw in the shot put. He leads the ASC, ranks third in the region and 34th in the nation with his debut discus mark.
Junior Kelby Tidwell competed in the javelin for the first time, placing fourth in the meet with a mark of 29.69m. Tidwell, who usually competes as a sprinter and jumper, placed better than nine other competitors.
Sophomore Jada Morris impressed in the women's long jump, setting a new season-high for McMurry at 5.19m while ranking ninth in the region and second in the conference. This is Morris' first track meet. She is a sophomore on the basketball court.
On the men's side, all-conference football wide receiver Jermond Lovely took his talents to the men's long jump and currently ranks 20th in the region with a mark of 6.52m. This is his personal record through five career meets.
Sophomore Sutton Welch now ranks eighth regionally in the hammer following a new PR at the meet, tossing a mark of 44.69m. He has now competed in the event six times.
Senior football player Daniel Zarzoza had a strong meet in throwing events, leading the team in the shot put at 11.84m and setting a discus PR at 37.32m.
Another football/track multi-sport athlete, senior Ethan Blocker, led the way in the javelin at 43.77m.
Back to the women's side, junior Margo Mendoza competed in three events, setting a new personal record in the shot put at 9.57m. She also competed in the discus and javelin at the meet.
Freshman Elizabeth Jordan competed for the first time since February and set a new PR in the discus at 30.80m.
Freshman Glenda Parra had a new personal best in the discus at 35.43 meters, her best mark in six meets.