Brian Barraza Breaks Mile Record in Season Opener
Houston wins five events at Texas A&M Reveille Invitational
http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/c-track/recaps/121016aaa.html
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Houston Cougar Men’s and Women’s Track & Field teams started the season in impressive fashion, winning five events, including Brian Barraza’s school-record setting performance in the mile run, at the Texas A&M Reveille Invitational, on Saturday.
BARRAZA’S FIFTH RECORD
After redshirting during the cross country season, Barraza made his return to competitive running in the one-mile run to open the indoor slate. Barraza cruised through the eight-lap race in 3:58.66 to set a new school record, breaking the previous best of 3:59.64 set by Olympian Leonard Hilton in 1971, and win the event by 17 seconds.
Barraza’s time lands him No. 1 on the collegiate list for the mile early in the season, and he now owns five program records for the Cougars. The El Paso, Texas, native also owns indoor records in the 3,000-meters (7:59.66, 2016) and 5,000-meters (14:23.29, 2014) as well as outdoor records in the 5,000-meters (13:52.52, 2016) and 10,000-meters (29:04.11, 2016).
SAMUELS IMPRESSES IN COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Freshman Samiyah Samuels burst onto the scene in a big way on Saturday, winning the long jump in College Station with a best of 19-5.5 (5.93m). Samuels, a 2016 IAAF World U20 Championship qualifier, holds the 11th best mark in the United States through the first week of competition with her jump.
CORNELIUS RETURNS TO THE RING
After missing the 2016 season due to a knee injury, junior thrower Cameron Cornelius was excited to get back in the shot put ring to open the season. Cornelius showed he hasn’t lost a step, throwing 57-7.0 (17.55m) to take home the event. Through the opening weekend of competition, Cornelius holds the No. 13 ranking in the NCAA with his throw.
LATTIN DOESN’T MISS A BEAT
Amere Lattin, the 2-time American Athletic Conference Outdoor Champion as a freshman was on the track to open the 2016-17 season in the Reveille Invitational’s first event. Lattin clocked the nation’s second fastest time at 7.85 to win the 60-meter hurdles and set a new personal best.
BURRELL JUMPS LONG
Houston swept the long jump competition at the Texas A&M Reveille Invitational, when Cameron Burrell joined Samuels on the podium. Burrell leapt 24-7.0 (7.49m) to win the event and rank himself No. 6 on the NCAA list through the season’s first meet.
TOP-5 FINISHES
Houston picked up 27 top-5 finishes while opening the season in College Station for the ninth consecutive year. Antwan Dickerson finished as the runner up in the long jump with a mark of 23-2.75 (7.08m), while high jumper Colin George took second at 6-10.25 (2.09m) in his event. George’s mark ties for the 21st best performance in the NCAA this season.
In the women’s field events, Haley Houston and Taylor Scaife landed some of the top performances of the competition. Houston finished third in the pole vault with a best mark of 12-11.75 (3.96m), while Scaife also took third in the weight throw at 58-1.25 (17.71m). Houston’s mark is the eighth best in the NCAA throughout the young season.
In the sprints, Tori Williams opened her senior season with a fourth place finish in the 200-meter dash, crossing the line in 24.15, while freshman Sierra Smith began her collegiate career with a 7.58 in the 60-meter dash to finish fifth. William’s mark is the seventh best time according to TFRRS.org, while Smith ranks 27th.
