COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Grant Szalek won the men's high jump with a career performance to highlight action for the UTSA track and field teams at the Aggie Invitational on Saturday at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.
Szalek cleared 2.11 meters (6-11) on his first attempt at the height to grab the gold medal and better his previous UTSA personal best of 2.06m (6-9) posted in capturing the silver medal at last year's Conference USA Indoor Championships
Szalek rallied to register his third collegiate win as a Roadrunner, as the Perth, Australia, native joined a trio of Texas A&M jumpers who cleared the opening two heights before he missed his first attempt at 2.08m (6-9.75). After the other three competitors topped that height on their first jump to take the lead, Szalek sailed over the bar on his second try and then made it over 2.11m on his first leap to reclaim the lead. Carter Bajoit of A&M was good on his second try, while the other two missed all three attempts. The final two jumpers failed to clear 2.14m (7-0.25), giving Szalek the win based on misses at the previous height.
Szalek's triumph led a total of six podium finishes for the Roadrunners at their second meet of the indoor season.
Jorge Ayala turned in the best performance in the shot put of his young career to lead a 2-3 finish by the Roadrunners. The sophomore from Edinburg High School measured 16.36 meters (53-8.25) on his fourth attempt of the day to move into second place before unleashing a personal-best mark of 16.54m (54-3.25) on his sixth and final heave. That measurement bettered his previous PR of 15.98m (52-2.25) turned in at the 2020 C-USA Indoor. Ayala added a sixth-place finish in the weight throw with a 14.67m (48-1.75) mark.
Competing in his first meet of the season, Paul Bouey finished third in the shot put. The sophomore from Chile registered a mark of 15.89m (52-1.75) on his final attempt of the day to secure the bronze.
Meanwhile, Bashiru Abdullahi peeled off a time of 7.93 seconds for a narrow runner-up finish in the men's 60-meter hurdles. The junior school record-holder and reigning conference champion just missed winning his second race of the season, as Texas A&M's Connor Schulman edged Abdullahi at the line with a 7.87 clocking.
Abdullahi's silver-medal showing paced a trio of Roadrunners in the 60m hurdles, as Gabriel Green crossed fourth in 8.72, followed by Joel McFarlane in fifth with an 8.76 clocking.
Christie Le Roux made his UTSA debut by finishing third in the long jump. The freshman from South Africa broke the sand at a distance of 7.06m (23-2) on his fifth jump of the day to secure the bronze, just missing the silver behind Texas A&M's Lagarious McQuirter (7.07m/23-2.5).
On the women's side, Ingeborg Gruenwald leaped to a mark of 5.88m (19-3.5) to collect a bronze medal in the long jump. That measurement was just shy of the reigning C-USA Field Female Athlete of the Week's season best of 5.95m (19-6.25) posted last week in winning the H-Town SpeedCity Series.
In the first competition of her senior indoor campaign, Lacee Barnes posted a mark of 13.45m (44-1.5) to place fifth in the shot put.
Alanah Yukich turned in a pair of seventh-place finishes, clocking a 57.70 in the 400m and an 8.76 in the 60m hurdles, while Maren Wilms was seventh in the high jump with a 1.61m (5-3.25) clearance.
The Roadrunners will return to action next Friday-Saturday, Jan. 29-30, when they travel to Houston for the H-Town SpeedCity Series II.
UTSA Results
Men
60 Meters
10. Jack Turner 7.22
11. Zach Perkins 7.30
200 Meters
7. Lirim Emerllahu 22.07
10. Noah Rhodes 22.58
11. Zach Perkins 23.02
400 Meters
8. Dylan Heritage 50.63
9. Logan Masters 51.06
60-Meter Hurdles
2. Bashiru Abdullahi 7.93
4. Gabriel Green 8.72
5. Joel McFarlane 8.76
4x400-Meter Relay
7. Noah Rhodes, Lirim Emerllahu, Dylan Heritage, Logan Masters 3:27.91
High Jump
1. Grant Szalek 2.11m (6-11)
Pole Vault
- Marcus Ramirez NH
Long Jump
3. Christie Le Roux 7.06m (23-2)
Shot Put
2. Jorge Ayala 16.54m (54-3.25)
3. Paul Bouey 15.89m (52-1.75)
9. Angel Robles 14.61m (47-11.25)
10. Jack Turner 12.81m (42-0.5)
11. Joel McFarlane 12.71m (41-8.75)
Weight Throw
6. Jorge Ayala 14.67m (48-1.75)
8. Angel Robles 13.43m (44-0.75)
Women
200 Meters
11. Taylor Armstrong 25.31
17. Kaylah Dove 26.89
400 Meters
7. Alanah Yukich 57.70
10. Orla Brothers 59.93
11. Mackenzie Grimes 1:02.53
60-Meter Hurdles (prelims)
8. Alanah Yukich 8.79q
12. Mackenzie Grimes 9.58
13. Maren Wilms 9.69
60-Meter Hurdles (final)
7. Alanah Yukich 8.76
4x400-Meter Relay
9. Orla Brothers, Maren Wilms, Creshaun Cresser, Kaylah Dove 4:00.77
High Jump
7. Maren Wilms 1.61m (5-3.25)
Long Jump
3. Ingeborg Gruenwald 5.88m (19-3.5)
Shot Put
5. Lacee Barnes 13.45m (44-1.5)
9. Maren Wilms 9.95m (32-7.75)
-UTSA-
