OREM, Utah – A year after finishing seventh in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase, Morgan Lamberson earn herself a podium spot with a bronze medal finish in the second day of the WAC Championships at Hal Wing Track and Field.
Lamberson maintained third place for nearly the entire race, as back-to-back champion Greta Karinauskaite controlled the pace to win the event. Lamberson crossed in 10:56.07, and fell to the ground, exhausted, but a medalist finisher for the first time in her Texan career in the event.
“The highlight of the day was Lamberson’s third-place finish in the steeplechase,” said interim head coach Chase Rathke. “Her finish was important both for her and the team points, and it was great to get the track events started with her performance.”
Eight Texans earned spots in tomorrow’s finals on the track after many impressive day two performances. Caterrin Cox and Konnor Hoerman will run in the 110-meter hurdle finals after finishing second and eighth in the preliminaries, respectively. Cox won his heat and posted the second best time of all heats with a 13.88. Hoerman earned the second best non-automatic qualifying time posting a 14.49 seconds. The other pair of men to earn a finals berth on Saturday were Justin Raines and Reid Vincent in the 100-meters. Raines posted the best time on the day crossing in 10.20 seconds winning is heat and earning the top spot in tomorrow’s finals. Reid Vincent won the fourth heat of the day posting the fourth-best time, finishing in 10.48 seconds.
On the women’s side, four individuals qualified for the finals on Saturday. Bryah Davis and Tori Cameron earned a pair of top 8 finishes with Davis finishing second overall in 11.51 seconds. Cameron earned the sixth-best overall time crossing in 11.67 seconds. Taylor McFarland broke her own school record in the 400-meters, lowering her best to 54.62 seconds. Aaliyah Rifort-Delem earned a spot in the finals with the eighth-best time of 56.48.
“I am really excited for the 110 hurdles, with Cox and Konnor and I’m really proud of how hard they worked to both make finals,” said coach Rathke. “I am excited to see what Taylor and Aaliyah can do in the 400. I am very proud of Tori and Bryah each earning a spot in the finals to earn points for the team. Raines and Vincent impressed in the prelims and I am excited to see what they can do.”
Davi Torres finished ninth in the decathlon with points, a score that would have placed him sixth last year. Torres broke his personal bests in nearly all of the events. He posted the highest high jump among all the decathletes in the first day of competition.
“I am very proud of how our team competed overall,” said coach Rathke after the second day. “Davi had an amazing two days in the decathalon and I am so proud of the way he fought hard for our team. Across the board, I am extremely pleased with the team overall and we are in a very good place. I am excited for women’s high jump and men’s triple jump to get us started in the morning.”
Looking ahead to the other finals on Saturday, the Women’s 4×400-meter relay seeks back-to-to back championships after earning the gold medal last season. Day 1 saw five track athletes earn spots in the finals as well. Hugo Menin earned the top seed in the 400-meter hurdles, Kevin Baez posted the fourth-best time in the 1500 and Raines will also compete in the 200, entering as the reigning champion from last year. Rese Schoonover earned the eighth spot in the 400-meter hurdles and McFarland will also be doubling earning a spot in the 200.
For the full finals schedule, download meettrax, or follow @tarletonxctrack on X and Instagram for live updates and announcements.
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