HOW IT HAPPENED
Kahmari Montgomery turned in the biggest show of the day on the track, when he won the 200-meter dash. Montgomery eclipsed the meet record in the event and finished one lap around the track in 20.98 to post the No. 1 time in the world during the early season.
Houston finished 1-through-4 in the 200-meter dash, with Edward Sumler IV taking second in 21.46 (No. 7 in the NCAA), Jordan Booker finishing fourth in 21.71 and Trenton McDonald placing fourth in 21.81
Action began in the field, where Taylor Scaife wasted no time in setting a new school record in the women’s weight throw. Scaife used her third attempt to throw the weight 65-8.25 (20.02m) to break the previous mark set by Emily Nnokwam 62-3.75 (18.99m) in 2013. Scaife’s throw moves her to No. 15 in the NCAA this season.
Priscilla Adejokun took the silver in the event when her fourth throw traveled a personal-best 61-0.25 (18.60m), while Mikaila Martinplaced fourth with a top mark of 52-8.0 (16.05m). Adejokun would pick up another podium finish later in the day, placing third in the shot put with a top mark of 46-8.75 (14.24m)…
Redshirt freshman long jumper Lagarious McQuirter left a big impact early in his career. McQuirter made his debut on the runway with a top leap of 24-11.0 (7.59m) to win gold in the event and move to No. 1 in the NCAA this season in the long jump.
Freshman Kenneth Pree took bronze in the event with a top mark of 22-3.75 (6.80m).
On the women’s side, junior Samiyah Samuels claimed the nation’s second-longest jump this season with her runner-up finish in the women’s long jump. Samuels’ opening attempt traveled 20-7.0 (6.27m) to give her the silver.
Nicholas Alexander picked up his first win of the season in the 60-meter dash running the nation’s fourth-fastest time in the process. Alexander blazed down the track in 6.73 to win gold and move to No. 19 in the world according to IAAF. Jais Smith crossed the line in third in 6.82 to move to No. 19 in the nation, while John Lewis III took fourth in 6.83, however his prelim time of 6.77 moves Lewis III to No. 10 in the NCAA.
Junior Brendan Rivera made his Houston debut with a victory in the men’s high jump. Rivera cleared the bar at 6-6.0 (1.98m) and defeated Michael Tolds Jr., of Premier Performance in a jump off for the victory.
Senior Felipe Valencia picked up Houston’s final win in the field with his second-consecutive victory in the men’s shot put. After taking gold at the Reveille Invitational to open the season, Valencia returned to throw 60-0.25 (18.29m) to win by nearly five feet.
Freshman Triston Gibbons finished second in the event after his third attempt traveled 55-2.25 (16.82m).
Houston’s final individual victory of the afternoon came in an impressive debut for freshman Jemal Wote. Wote won the 3,000-meter run by finishing 15 laps around the track in 8:47.40.
The Cougars capped the evening the same way they opened it, atop the podium. Houston wrapped its first home meet of the season with a victory in the men’s 4x400-meter relay in 3:18.15.
In the vault, sophomore Ben Percefull made his return to the runway with a second-place finish. Percefull set a new personal best and moved to No. 11 in the NCAA this season when he cleared the bar at 16-6.75 (5.05m).
The Cougars picked up four podium finishes in the first finals running event of the afternoon, the men’s and women’s mile run. On the women’s side, Jennifer Dunlap and Britani Gonzales finished second and third, respectively in 5:03.29 and 5:04.43. On the men’s side, Cameron Laverty and GJ Reyna also finished 2-3 in 4:17.17 and 4:19.29 losing only to Cougar distance alum Brian Barraza in the race.
Freshman Brandon Adams made his debut at Houston with silver in the men’s 400-meter dash. Adams ran two laps around the track in 49.78 to finish second while Naaman Outing claimed the bronze in 50.12.
Tonia Adeyemi set a new personal best en route to a second-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles. Adeyemi cleared each of the hurdles in 8.95 to take the silver.
In the four-lap race, senior Aaron Hurd picked up a second-place finish. Hurd ran the 800-meters in 1:58.34.