SAN ANGELO — The South Plains College men's and women's track and field teams combined for seven event titles Saturday at the David Noble Relays at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.
Sophomore Bryson Deberry kicked off the afternoon for the top-ranked Texans as the sophomore from Plainview took first in the men's high jump, clearing 7' 1.5". Sophomore Jesse Madrid was the first runner across the line in the men's 3000 steeplechase, clocking a 9:41.09.
"We had a very enjoyable day today," South Plains head coach Erik Vance said. "It seemed like everything was clicking from start to finish and our kids were excited to be there. Our teams competed extremely hard and I feel like we're starting to find our form at this point in the season. Bryson continues to impress, and I think that's the fourth or fifth time he's PRd, and anytime you do that in a single season is pretty special."
South Plains' Andrew Bosquez continued his tear in the men's 5000 meters, running a 14:58.63 to take the top spot for the Texans. Alex Kitum also placed third in the race in 15:18.95, hitting a national qualifying mark. In the men's 400 hurdle finals, Moitalei Mpoke and Deion Lightfoot went 1-2 as Mpoke crossed the line in 51.11, while Lightfoot took second in 53.67.
"Our distance crew had a great day all around, and they continue to get better every week," Vance said. "We had several national marks and picked up a couple event wins, and it started well and kind of got the ball rolling early and kept going."
The Texans posted the top time in the men's 4x100 relay as Brandon Letts, AJ Pemberton, Adrese Atkins, and Willari Watson ran a 40.01 to take first overall. Freshman Bryce Spencer used a throw of 171' 5" to take sixth in the men's javelin, while sophomore Riley Finnegan placed sixth in the men's discus finals with a throw of 163' 6".
South Plains placed a pair of runners in the top 10 of the men's 800 meters as freshman Japhet Toroitich placed second in 1:54.29, while Yusuf Mohammad took sixth with a time of 1:56.73.
The No. 4-ranked Lady Texans picked up a pair of event titles on the weekend, the first coming in the women's 5000 meter final as freshman Gladys Jemaiyo placed first in 17:25.78. Freshman Lynda Martinez followed up with a top finish in the 1500 meters, clocking a 5:11.50 for the Lady Texans.
"Our women's team is really starting to do some good things, and we're seeing some good things in practice and they get after it every day and work extremely hard," Vance said. "They're a fun bunch to coach day in and day out in practice, and I don't think they know yet what they can really do."
In the women's 100 meters, sophomore Ruth Usoro turned in an 11.83 to take fifth for South Plains. The Lady Texans placed a pair of runners in the 400-meter finals, as Geordan Blanchard took second in 58.09, while Alyssa Hernandez ran a 1:00.35, good enough for fourth.
Freshman Itzel Garcia-Santos earned a second place finish in the women's 800 meters, clocking a 2:14.97. Running out of lane six in the women's 400 hurdles, sophomore Janiel Moore turned in a 1:04.37 to take third for South Plains. The Lady Texans closed out the meet with a fourth-place finish in the women's 4x100 relay as Usoro, Patrice Moody, Elon'a Jones, and Blanchard posted a 46.70.
South Plains returns to the track April 12 in Hobbs at the Ross Black Invitational, followed by a trip to Abilene for the Olive Jackson Twilight April 24.