Track & Field: Six Wins Highlight North Texas Classic

DENTON, Texas – On a day where North Texas Track & Field honored its 2022 seniors, the Mean Green recorded six victories Saturday at the North Texas Classic at the Soccer and Track & Field Stadium.

"It's a great time to have meets at home," director of track & field Carl Sheffield said. "For our athletes, families, and people to come out and watch them, it's a great thing. We have a great facility and an outstanding track surface, so we knew that we could run fast times here. It's always a pleasure running at home."

Victor Neiva kicked things off with a personal-best time of 14:29.44 and a win in the men's 5,000 meters, ahead of teammate Braden Lange in second with a personal-best time of 14:34.62.

Natasha Corkerton-Purchas took home the win in the women's pole vault with a personal-best mark of 12-5.5 (3.80m).

Karlington Anunagba edged the competition to win the men's 100 meters, registering a personal-best time of 10.22 that would have been the second-best time in school history without the wind. Samir Williams was third with a time of 10.24, followed by Davonye Jones in fourth at 10.30.

Jones answered later in the 200 meters, winning with a time of 20.46 while Anunagba placed fourth with a time of 20.95.

Jake Parchman got the victory in the men's hammer throw, recording a personal-best mark of 185-9 (56.63m) to edge teammate Chris Samaniego in second at 185-7 (56.57m).

The men's 4x100-meter relay team of Williams, Jones, Clayton Boyce, and Anunagba took home the win with a time of 40.03.

In the women's 200 meters, Lauren Brown placed second with a time of 23.84, followed by Kayla McDonald in third at 23.87.

Sydney Rogers recorded a personal-best javelin throw of 140-9 (42.92m) to finish as the runner-up.

Macayla Needham finished as the runner-up in the women's shot put with an outdoor-best mark of 45-11.75 (14.01m).

In the men's shot put, Chris Samaniego was the runner-up with a mark of 53-8.25 (16.36m). Kendall Maples finished fourth with a mark of 50-6.25 (15.40m).

Wardell Glaspie took second in the men's discus with a throw of 175-2 (53.39m).

In the men's 110-meter hurdles, Jordan Coates-McBride finished as the runner-up with a personal-best time of 14.62. He would later place third in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 55.48.

Liah Collins placed second in the women's 800 meters, recording a time of 2:20.28.

Kennedy Adams finished as the runner-up in the women's triple jump, registering a mark of 38-5.5 (11.72m). She had earlier placed third in the women's long jump, followed by teammate Glenquioa Hardy in fourth. Adams registered her best mark at North Texas, 18-6 (5.64m). Hardy's mark was 17-10.25 (5.44m).

"We needed a day like that, because I think it gives them confidence for what we need to do in the next few weeks in preparation for the conference meet," Sheffield said. "There were some windy marks, a little bit over the allowable, but we talk about if you can do it and win, you should be able to duplicate it in normal circumstances. So that's what we'll train at now. We have a lot of good top-end athletes on the men's side, and the women are coming around now. We should have a lot of high marks in the conference ranking. So, it was a good day overall."

Before the 4x400-meter relay races, the Mean Green honored its 20 seniors - Caleb Bouchard, Clayton Brewer, Antonio DeLaCruz, Alec Esposito, Skyler Guillot, Zion Hill, Brock Hottel, Davonye Jones, Kendal Maples, Kayla McDonald, Logan Mitchell, Matthew Morgan, Ziphion Reevey, Jaden Reid, Sydney Rogers, Sydney Salinas, Chris Samaniego, Jaleisa Shaffer, Audrey Springer and Madelyn Taylor.

"This is my 10th year as head coach, and to have 20 seniors walk out on this track says a lot for where we've come and what we've done," Sheffield said. "I'm very appreciative of their time here. It says a lot for our program and what we've done in building a level of consistency in the classroom. To have that many graduating seniors at one time, we are proud of them and thankful for what they've done, as well as on the track. We wish them well, and we have another big season to finish. That'll really help us lock in the future."

Next up for the Mean Green is the Mt. Sac Relays next week, April 13-16 in Torrance, Calif.

"California's cool for us," Sheffield said. "It is a chance to get away and race for a few days without training. They get their legs back this week, and the level of competition at the meet we're going to fits where we are right now. So, hopefully we can go up and improve on some of those marks that we have. We'll take a medium-sized squad, and the rest of the group will come back the following week and go to Baylor. The Michael Johnson meet is another very popular meet. There'll be a lot of good teams and competition there."

Be sure to keep an eye on MeanGreenSports.com, follow Mean Green Sports on social media @MeanGreenSports and Mean Green track & field/cross country at @MeanGreenTFXC for the latest information.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kennedy Adams

Karlington Anunagba

Clayton Boyce

Clayton Brewer

Lauren Brown

Jordan Coates-McBride

Liah Collins

Natasha Corkerton-Purchas

Alec Esposito

Wardell Glaspie

Skyler Guillot

Glenquioa Hardy

Zion Hill

Brock Hottel

Davonye Jones

Braden Lange

Kendal Maples

Kayla McDonald

Logan Mitchell

Matthew Morgan

Macayla Needham

Victor Neiva

Jake Parchman

Ziphion Reevey

Jaden Reid

Sydney Rogers

Sydney Salinas

Chris Samaniego

Jaleisa Shaffer

Audrey Springer

Madelyn Taylor

Samir Williams

Upcoming Events