SPC track and field teams wrap up Masked Rider Open Saturday in Lubbock

LUBBOCK — The South Plains College men's and women's track and field teams wrapped up their second outdoor meet of the season Saturday afternoon at the Fuller Track and Field Complex, combining for three event titles at the Texas Tech Masked Rider Open.  

Sophomore All-American Kudakwashe Chadenga won the men's high jump for South Plains, clearing the bar at 6' 11.5". Freshman Billy Mosnier took second in the high jump for SPC, getting over the bar at 6' 5.5". Sophomore Charles Gaither turned in a fifth place finish in the men's hammer throw, posting a final mark of 171' 1".

"Our throws group as a whole has just become an asset to our team," South Plains head coach Erik Vance said. "They sometimes can feel like they get separated from the rest of the group at times, and they put in a lot of work, and it shows. We had multiple personal best out of that group, and they just keep getting better every week."  

In the men's long jump, sophomore Elisha Teneus-Claude placed fifth with a mark of 23' 9". The Texans' 4x100 relay team clocked the fastest time on the weekend, as Keontae Gaines, Cody Grant, Noah Lawson, and Gregory Prince ran a blistering 39.59. Kimar Farquharson notched a seventh place finish in the men's 1500 meters, crossing the line in 3:58.44.

"Our relay teams had some struggles last week, and we feel much better about that group after today's meet," Vance said. "We weren't sharp last week, and we still have some room for improvement, and they can be two really good teams. To run the times they did today was great, and we're going continue to clean some things up and they will only get better as the season continues."

In the men's 110m hurdles, Dishaun Lamb placed second in 14.19, while Nelvin Appiah-Konadu was fifth in a time of 14.35. Hossam Hatib earned a second place finish in the men's 400 meters for South Plains, crossing the line in 45.58. The Texans went two-three in the men's 800 meters as Chevonne Hall went 1:49.46 to take second, while Aron Tanui was third in 1:50.29.

On the women's side, freshman Rushana Dwyer won the women's 800 meters, posting a 2:09.89. Lilliana Guerrero was fourth in the 800, turning in a 2:13.11. In the women's long jump, freshman Paula Ann Chambers placed sixth with a mark of 19' 0.5". Amaya Brown notched a seventh place finish in the women's high jump, clearing the bar at 5' 3.25".

"I have to give so much credit to our women's 800 group," Vance said. "They ran outstanding today, and continue to put in the work and push each other every day. I think the group that we have is as good as anyone in the country at the junior college level, and I can't say enough about that group."

The Lady Texans posted a third place finish in the 4x100 relay, as Success Umukoro, Corlasia Scott, Brandy Hall, and Breanna Clarke clocked a 45.03. Umukoro would then take fourth in the 100 meters, posting an 11.54. Sophomore Ronelle Plaza turned in a fourth place finish in the women's hammer throw, turning in a mark of 152' 0". Ashyiria Savage placed second in the women's 100m hurdles for South Plains, getting across the line in 13.96. Umukoro would then take fourth in the 100 meters in 11.54.

South Plains will be back on the track March 29 – April 1, competing at the 2023 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin at the University of Texas.

"We try to set ourselves up where we can go showcase who South Plains College is when we go down to Austin each year," Vance said. "It's one of the best meets in the country, and we're going to have to be on our A game from the moment we step on the track. We are going to go in focused and ready to go, and if we do that we can compete with anyone that is there."