Track-and-field team repeats indoor success, prepares for outdoors

By Nat Valenzuela LOGOS SPORTSWRITER

After repeating as Southland Conference indoor track-and-field champions in February, the men’s team at the University of the Incarnate Word is preparing for the outdoor competition May 4-6.

Southland’s outdoor event will be at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

UIW bested 10 teams at the indoor event which began Feb. 26 in Birmingham, Ala.

Senior Dallas Williams from Arlington, Texas, started day one off right by setting a new Southland 60m heptathlon record with the official time of 6.91. Junior Griffin Neal from Wimberly, Texas, is the new school record-holder for the 5,000-meter run with an official time of 14:23:64. Senior Garrett Stokes from El Paso broke a school record for the fourth time this year in weight throw with a distance of 18.62 meters and is now the conference champion.

Day two was filled with first-, second-, and third-placers. Senior Isaiah Hudgens from San Antonio, placed first in pole vault with a height of 4.85 meters. He also scored a total of 5,620 points to win the heptathlon and is now a Southland champion. Hudgens was also awarded Outstanding Field Events Performer and Southland Conference Athlete of the Year.

Sophomore Christopher Daniels, a long-distance runner from Houston, placed third twice in the mile event with the official times of 4:24.89 and 4:20.38; 17th place in the 3000 with an official time of 8:41.49; sixth place in the distance medley relay (DMR) with an official time of 12:39.13; and third place in DMR with an official time of 10:01.59.

“I like winning,” Daniels said. “It’s what motivates me to do better. I also like lifting up my teammates.”

Dr. Derek Riedel, who has been UIW’s track-and-field and cross-country head coach since 2005, R was awarded the Southland Conference Coach of the Year.

“I enjoy working with a driven group of guys,” Riedel said. “They’re a good and unique mix that love and push each other.”