Stephen F. Austin
New Mexico Collegiate Classic
Pesek, Mathenge Help SFA Start Strong in New Mexico
2/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Day One Results 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Stephen F. Austin track and field teams saw several of its athletes set new personal and seasonal bests on Friday evening at the University of New Mexico Collegiate Classic inside the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The 3,000-meter run proved to be SFA’s top event as six ‘Jacks placed in the top seven between the men’s and women’s races. Senior Shelby Pesek picked up SFA’s only first place showing on day one with a time of 10:08.50. She edged UNLV’s Nikki Regalado by 1.03 seconds for the win and nearly surpassed her fourth-best mark in the SLC this season.
Courtney High, Taylor Anderson, and Brittany Innis finished together in the 5-7 range, notching times of 10:21.37, 10:26.31 and 10:27.38, respectfully.
For the men, Lumberjack junior Charles Mathenge was the top collegiate performer in the 3,000m and second overall behind Dukes Track Club’s William Marquardt. Mathenge crossed in 8:36.15, leaning ahead of the third place runner by 0.28 seconds. The Kenyan holds the fifth fastest time in the conference in 2016.
Senior Nicholas Guerra wasn’t far off the pace, taking fifth with a time of 8:41.94.
In Friday’s field events, freshman Isiah Pittman stole the show with a big PR in the men’s long jump. On his second run, Pittman flew 24-1.50 feet (7.35m) for the fourth longest recorded jump of the day. The leap also catapulted him into third on the SLC indoor performers list this season.
Senior Trey Darty took Pittman’s place in fifth in the league with a season best mark of 23-10 (7.26m) to claim eighth out of 27.
Sophomore thrower Derek Orlando secured SFA’s only other top three finish of day one with a 50-8 (15.44m) toss in the men’s weight throw. He took third overall.
In the women’s weight throw, senior Jessica Spelling set a new season best by over one foot. She launched her first throw 51-1.50 feet (15.58m) to stake out an eighth place finish and improve to No. 7 in the Southland.
Sophomore Kerry Gleason and freshman Jordan Washington put themselves in position to make a run at the finals in the 60-meter hurdle prelims on Friday. Each Lumberjack qualified for Saturday’s semifinals with Gleason owning the 10th best qualifying time at 8.09 seconds and Washington right behind in 11th at 8.12 seconds.
Rounding out the excitement on day one was a season-best time for junior Aliyah Davis in the women’s 200-meter dash. She improved her No. 3 mark in the SLC to No. 1 with a time of 24.26 seconds. In a jam-packed field of 71 women, Davis finished 15th.
The ‘Jacks will wrap up their trip to New Mexico on Saturday when action begins at 11:00 a.m. CT for the women’s shot put. Track events will resume at 11:45 a.m. CT with the men’s 60m hurdle semifinals. Fans can follow live results here.
-SFA-
