CANYON – Senior multi-athletes Cassie Brooks and Matthew Stark each recorded career best scores during their outdoor season debuts in the decathlon and heptathlon, respectively, this past weekend at the West Texas A&M Open and Multi.
Brooks totaled 4,954 points – a personal record by 153 points – and along the way earned victories in the 100-meter hurdles, shot put and long jump, while Stark won four events en route to scoring 6,276 points – bettering his previous career best by 172 points.
Brooks placed among the top three through the first three events, and then finished fourth in the 200-meter dash (25.28) before coming back with a win in the long jump (18-2.25/5.54m) and runner-up showing in the javelin (109-8/33.42m). Her marks in the long jump and javelin were both personal bests, as was her first-place throw in the shot put (40-4.25/12.30m).
Brooks concluded the heptathlon placing fifth in the 800m (2:41.19), but still finished a comfortable 86 points ahead of second-place Danisha Phipps of New Mexico Highlands.
Brooks' score currently ranks her sixth nationally, and while it's not an automatic qualifying mark, she should be good to make the national meet.
Stark's primary competition came from his teammates Luke Woods (5,949) and Parker Petty (5319), who placed second and third.
The Abilene native and graduate of Cooper High School had a terrific first day here with personal bests in the 100m (11.32), long jump (21-8.75/6.62m), shot put (34-1.5/10.40) and the 400m (51.11). During the second day of competition, Stark won the pole vault (14-5.25/4.40m) and 1500m (4:50.26) with a personal record in the javelin (140-11/42.96) sandwiched in between.
Also winning for the Wildcats were Andrew Hudson in the discus (167-3/50.97m) and hammer (166-4/50.71), Osei Allyene-Forte in the 400m (49.38), Aaron Bynum in the javelin (184-1/56.11m) and Chloe Susset in the 1500 with a season best and provisional qualifying time of 4:36.75 that ranks her 10th nationally.
ACU's men's 4x400-meter relay of Allyene-Forte, Jordan Geary, Darian Hogg and Banjo Jaiyesimi also was victorious in its two-team race vs. Eastern New Mexico, recording a time of 3:19.55.
Elsewhere on the track, senior Shennae Steele recorded a season best provisional mark of 12.02 (with altitude adjustment) in the 100m, which was good for third place. She also placed third in the 200m at 24.38.
In the hammer throw, Lauren Hartwick registered a career best of 169-9/51.74m, moving her into the top 20 nationally and into fifth on ACU's all-time performance list. Hartwick finished second overall in this event, while teammate Shalania Lakey came in third (167-3/50.98m).
The Wildcats return to action next Saturday for the Dr. Pepper/Michael Johnson Classic hosted by Baylor's Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex in Waco.
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ACU Men's Results at West Texas Open and Multi
100 Meters
4.) Devan Brown – 10.68 (+5.1w)
200 Meters
3.) Johnathan Farquharson – *21.24 (+3.0w)
4.) Jordan Geary – 21.42 (+3.0w)
6.) Devan Brown – 21.50 (+4.4w)
13.) Darian Hogg – 22.00 (+3.0w)
400 Meters
1.) Osei Allyene-Forte – 49.38
2.) Banjo Jaiyesimi – 49.41 (SB)
800 Meters
3.) Xavier King – 1:55.91 (SB)
26.) James Grantham – 2:18.22 (SB)
1500 Meters
4.) Xavier King – 3:59.65
6.) James Grantham – 4:03.93
14.) Taylor Ochs – 4:32.80
110 Hurdles
6.) Jeremy Tatham – 15.26 (+2.4w)
400 Hurdles
5.) Jeremy Tatham – 57.66 (SB)
4x100 Relay
2.) Brown, Allyene-Forte, Farquharson, Hogg – 41.19
4x400 Relay
1.) Allyene-Forte, Geary, Hogg, Jaiyesimi – 3:19.55
Triple Jump
2.) Malcolm Barnes – 46-8/14.22m (+4.6w)
Shot Put
6.) Jelani Rainey – 42-6/13.26m (SB)
Discus
1.) Andrew Hudson – *167-3/50.97m
4.) Aaron Bynum – 148-7/45.30m
8.) Jelani Rainey – 137-11/42.05m
Hammer
1.) Andrew Hudson – 166-4/50.71m
3.) Jelani Rainey – 152-5/46.45m
Javelin
1.) Aaron Bynum – 184-1/56.11m
Decathlon
1.) Matthew Stark – *6,276 points (SB)
100m – 11.32 (+3.2w) [791] | LJ – 21-8.75/6.62m [725] | SP – 34-1.5/10.40 [510] | HJ – 5-9.75/1.77 [602]
400m – 51.11 [764] | 110H – 16.71 (+1.0w) [655] | DT – 87-00/26.51 [396] | PV – 14-5.25/4.40 [731]
JT – 140-11/42.96 [485] | 1500m – 4:50.26 [617]
2.) Luke Woods – 5,959 points
100m – 11.46 (+3.2w) [761] | LJ – 18-11.75/5.78m [540] | SP – 35-6.75/10.84 [536] | HJ – 5-8.5/1.74 [577]
400m – 52.74 [693] | 110H – 15.96 (+1.0w) [737] | DT – 117-8/35.87 [581] | PV – 11-9.75/3.60 [509]
JT – 131-00/39.93 [441] | 1500m – 4:57.48 [574]
3.) Parker Petty – 5,319 points (SB)
100m – 11.59 (+3.2w) [734] | LJ – 19-2/5.84m [552] | SP – 36-1.25/11.00 [546] | HJ – 5-7.25/1.71 [552]
400m – 53.42 [664] | 110H – 16.90 (+1.0w) [635] | DT – 106-9/32.55 [515] | PV – NH
JT – 154-07/47.13 [546] | 1500m – 4:57.42 [575]
ACU Women's Results at West Texas Open and Multi
100 Meters
3.) Shennae Steele – *11.99 (+3.0w)
5.) Karolyn Palmer – 12.18 (+3.0w)
6.) Amanda Ouedraogo – 12.50 (+6.6w)
200 Meters
3.) Shennae Steele – *24.38 (+1.4w)
7.) Karolyn Palmer – 24.90 (+3.4w)
400 Meters
2.) Ayesha Rumble – 58.48 (SB)
1500 Meters
1.) Chloe Susset – *4:36.75 (SB)
8.) Emily Hill – 5:29.50
13.) Rachel Belcher – 6:04.66 (SB)
100 Hurdles
2.) Lexus Williams – *14.09 (+6.1w)
Long Jump
8.) Amanda Ouedraogo – 16-2.25/4.93m (+5.7w)
Shot Put
3.) Tara Riley – 40-11.50/12.48m
7.) Lauren Hartwick – 37-2.25/11.33m (SB)
Discus
2.) Shalania Lakey – 136-2/41.51m (SB)
3.) Tara Riley – 135-2/41.20m
Hammer
2.) Lauren Hartwick – *169-9/51.74m (SB)
3.) Shalania Lakey – *167-3/50.98m
Javelin
3.) Ameilia Mitchell – *131-1/40.00m
6.) Tara Riley – 116-11/35.63m
Heptathlon
1.) Cassie Brooks – *4,954 points (SB)
100H – 14.45 (+0.1w) [916] | HJ – 5-3/1.60m [736] | SP – 40-4.25/12.30m [681]
200m – 25.28 (+1.2w) [755] | LJ – 18-2.25/5.54m (+2.4w) [765] | JT – 109-8/33.42m [542]
800m – 2:41.19 [559]
