Texas Tech track and field breaks records
By: Britton Drown, Texas Tech Athletics
Updated: February 2, 2013
LUBBOCK, Texas -Texas
Tech sophomore thrower Kole Weldon turned in another historic performance Saturday at the Texas Tech Red Raider Open.
During
the final home indoor meet of the season, Weldon broke the school
record for the second time this year in the men's shot put with a toss
of 18.47-meters (62'-0.25") to finish first overall in the event.
The
performance kick-started an impressive performance for the Red Raiders
and Lady Raiders during a full day of action inside the Athletic
Training Center, while a contingent of athletes also competed in two
separate meets across the country.
"He has just been remarkable," Texas Tech head coach Wes Kittley said.
"His throwing has just really taken off, and it is great to see him break the school record again."
Texas
Tech senior Kennedy Kithuka also made history competing in the
3,000-meter
run at the Meyo Invitational. Kithuka broke the seven-year-old school
record in the event, finishing first overall with a time of 7:50.26 -
four seconds faster than the previous record.
Kithuka
now owns the school record in the 3,000-meter run, the mile run
(3:59.53) and also anchored the men's distance medley relay team to a
school record time at the Texas A&M Challenge last weekend.
Also at the Meyo Invitational, Texas Tech freshman Nick Rivera recorded
a season-best time of 4:13.02 to finish 22nd in the highly competitive field.
Meanwhile,
the Red Raiders and Lady Raiders also wrapped up competition
at the Armory Invitational in New York. Lady Raider sophomore Christen
Rivers earned a top-five finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of
53.66. Rivers finished fifth while the performance launched her into the
top-10 of the national indoor qualifying list,
and marked the fastest 400-meter dash by a Lady Raider this season.
Lady Raider sophomore Avril McGhee recorded a personal-best mark in the
triple jump at the Armory Invitational with a jump of 12.47-meters (40'-11.00") to finish sixth overall.
Meanwhile,
for the fourth consecutive week junior Caitlin Waters turned
in a career-best performance finishing fifth in the 800-meter run
college division at the Armory Invitational. Waters crossed the line
with a time of 2:12.73.
At
the Red Raider Open, Weldon's school record performance was followed
by a first place finish in the men's pole vault by Tech All-American
Kyal Meyers who cleared a season-best 5.32-meters (17'-5.50"). The mark
moved Meyers into the top-15 of the national indoor list.
Texas
Tech freshman decathlete Kyle Thompson also turned in a successful
meet, setting career-best marks in three separate events. Thompson
finished fourth in the pole vault clearing a bar at 4.92-meters
(16'-1.75") on his first attempt. Thompson also set career-bests marks
in both the 55-meter hurdles where he finished 20th
with a time of 8.09, and the 1,000-meter run where he finished 23rd with a time of 1:24.57.
In
the women's pole vault freshman Shelby Poncik registered a new career
best clearing 3.90-meters (12'-9.50") on her third attempt. She was
followed by teammate Haley Cook who cleared 3.60-meters (11'-9.75").
In the distance races, junior Jonathon Lira finished first overall in
the men's 5,000-meter race with a time of 15:16.22. He was followed by teammate Brendan Devlin 15:35.06.
