Stephen F. Austin
Howie Ryan Invitational
Mathenge Breaks School Record in Seattle
1/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
UW Invitational Results | Howie Ryan Invitational Results
SEATTLE, Wash. – While the rest of the Stephen F. Austin track and field team was closing out the Howie Ryan Invitational in Houston, distance specialist Charles Mathenge posted the fastest 3,000-meter time in school history at the UW Invitational on Saturday afternoon. In Houston, Brarysheyia Simpson won the women’s 400-meter dash and the SFA men took first in the 4x400 meter relay to finish the weekend strong.
In a loaded field of some of the best runners in the country, both collegiate and professional, Mathenge cruised to a school record by way of an 8:15.82 mark in Saturday’s 3,000 meter run at the University of Washington. His time broke the previous school indoor record of 8:24.79 set in 2012 by Xavier Rodriguez. Mathenge, an Ol Kalou, Kenya native, was the ninth collegiate runner to finish at Dempsey Indoor and the 15th overall.
In his first year at SFA, Mathenge now owns the program record in the men’s 8K and 10K in cross country and in the 3,000m in men’s indoor track and field.
The SFA track and field squad also got big performances closer to home in Houston during the second day of the Howie Ryan. Simpson represented the Ladyjacks on the top of the podium with a 56.81 mark in the women’s 400m ‘A’ competition. She was the only athlete to go under 57 seconds, running ahead of Sam Houston State’s Ruth Amaku (57.18).
The Lumberjacks ended Saturday’s meet with a bang in the 4x400 meter relay. In their first time running together in competition, Johnathan Joe, Joshua Taylor, My'Lik Kerley and Cass Brown-Stewart posted 3:17.63 to claim first place in the final event of the day. The unit outran 16 other teams, including eight from the Southland Conference.
On the women’s side, Dar'Keisha Tryon, Cierra Jefferson, DeJernel Jordan and Jessica Hatchett came in fourth in the 4x400m among a 22-team field. The group put up a time of 3:52.48.
Continuing the success of the sprinters over the weekend, three ‘Jacks turned in top-five finishes in the 200 meter dash. Taylor (22.36) and Kerley (22.44) went three-four, respectively, for the men while Aliyah Davis snuck into the top five out of 56 women with a 25.19 showing.
Saturday’s field events were highlighted by the men’s high jump and pole vault. Kerley, the versatile freshman, cleared 6-08.75 (2.05m) on his first attempt at the height in the high jump to earn a third place finish of 18 athletes. Senior Cameron Meyer went up and over 16-10.75 (5.15m) to take fourth in the men’s pole vault.
Joining Mathenge with success in the longer distances, Quinlin McGregor completed the men’s mile in 4:21.16 to come in third and Rana Ryan tackled the same distance in 5:03.84 for fourth place in the women’s competition.
The ‘Jacks will next venture to Albuquerque, New Mexico next Friday and Saturday for the New Mexico Classic.
-SFA-
