HOUSTON, Texas- Louisiana Tech's track and field team recorded some solid performances Friday at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational in Houston, Texas. These performances include four-lifetime personal bests and four first-place finishes amongst the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters.
 
On the field, the Lady Techsters started the meet off by sweeping the high jump, with Johannon Murray taking the first-place spot. Murray jumped her way into earning a personal best of 5-feet-4.5 inches (1.65m). Coming in second place was freshman Maggie Gilmore jumping 1.52m, and freshman Andree Celestin jumping 1.49m to finish third. 
 
Freshman Kristina Subia represented Louisiana Tech in the women's shot put with a throw of 11.95m, landing her with a fourth-place finish and a lifetime personal record. Bulldogs Johnie Jean-Jacques and Tim Fitzgerald also executed a personal best in the men's shot-put. Jean-Jacques finished second with a mark of 16.09m, and Fitzgerald followed suit with a third-place (15.75m). 
 
William Malone won the men's weight throw with a throw of 12.43m. In the long jump, Colin Bulter jumped 7.08m and received the third-place spot amongst his competitors, and Jarvon Gaines came in fifth place with a jump of 6.52m. On the women's side, Maya Perry-Grimes took home the first-place finish with a jump of 5.62m. In fourth place, Leah Scott jumped 5.56m. Fifth and sixth place finishes went to Raven Alexander (5.46m) and Pleasant Harris (5.43m).
 
In the pole vault, Andrew Spellman jumped 4.46m positioning him in eighth place. For the Lady Techsters, Laura Degravelle came in fifth place with a jump of 3.37m. In the triple jump, Murphy Bavinga jumped 14.73m, Scott jumped 11.93m, landing her in the second-place position, and Perry-Grimes came in third with a jump of 11.68m. 
 
On the track, Riley Killian earned a fourth-place finish in the mile with a time of 5:22.21. Victoria Datta ran 1:02.12, and Desmyn McCall ran 52.16 in the 400m. 
 
In the 60m hurdles finals, the Lady Techsters received the fifth, sixth, and seventh spots, respectively. Freshman Nike Praetzel led the Lady Techsters with a time of 9.09, Murray followed a time of 9.16, and Celestin finished the race with a time of 9.31. The Bulldogs took home both the second and third place spots. Tim Rummelhagen ran 8.30, and Urijah Williams ended with a time of 8.78. 
 
In the 60m finals, Kyra Collins ran 7.93 (fifth), and Faith Tarver ran 7.98 (seventh). Killian (2:29.90) and Rebecca Quebedeaux (2:32.77) ran the 800m finishing fourth and fifth. Mason Youberg (fourth) ran 1:59.47, Trent Terminie (fifth) 1:59.51, and Micah Pernetter (sixth) concluded with a time of 2:04.63.
 
Tarver finished fourth in the 200m with a time of 25.78. Alexander (25.94) earned fifth place, Parks (26.07) in sixth, Harris (27.55) in eighth, and Collins (27.64) in ninth. On the men's side, Boullion tied for sixth place with a time of 22.02. Marshall Ellis landed eighth on the track, running a time of 22.17.
 
The Lady Techsters won the 4x400m relay with a time of 4:12.71, and the Bulldogs (3:31.86) finished third amongst the Houston Cougars. 
 
LA Tech will head to Birmingham, Alabama, for the Samford University Invite/Multis on January 20^th-21^st. This meet will take place at the Birmingham Crossplex.

QUOTABLE
"I am pleased with the performances from the throwers squads today," said Associate Head Coach Nadia Alexander-Pompey. "It is always great to see PRs in the season openers. This meet shows that we are moving in the right direction. We still have some work to do, but overall, this was a solid starting point to our season."
 
"Considering it was very small field sizes today, this meet went okay," said Head Coach Gary Stanley. "We had four winners throughout the meet: Women's high jump, men's weight throw, women's long jump, and the women's 4x400 meter relay (Parks, Praetzel, Murray, and Tarver). Our throws group had the best overall performances for the day. We're looking to improve at our next meet next week."
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in LA Tech Track and Field, follow them on Twitter (@LATechTFXC), Instagram (@LATechTFXC), Facebook (LATechTFXC), or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.