The UCA Track and Field team competed in two Texas meets March 27-30, gaining new personal records for several of the athletes.
The Bears competed at the University of Texas for the 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
We just wanted to see our athletes compete at a high level,” coach Josey Weaver said. “This is one of the most prestigious meets in the whole country, and for us to have athletes competing side-by-side, some of the nation’s best was a great experience for them, and can be built on for the future.”
Part of the team traveled to San Marcos, Texas, to compete at the Bobcat Invitational hosted by Texas State University.
“We didn’t have our full team there, but with the athletes who did compete, I felt like we took away a lot of learning lessons,” Weaver said. “I think this experience will make us much better when we get to our conference championship in May.”
At the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, two athletes made personal records.
Graduate student Wesley Suen finished 10th in the men’s 100-meter dash with a time of 10.7, earning a personal record.
“My performance this week was much more composed,” Suen said. “In previous weeks, I was honestly ill-prepared and focused going into my races and that was all on me. This weekend I came in with a game plan and executed it or learned from it.”
Freshman Xavier Simpkins had a personal record time of 54.68 in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, placing in 14th.
At the Bobcat Invitational, Freshman Raghan Allen achieved a personal record time of 24.11 in the women’s 200-meter dash, earning her 25th place in the race.
Of all the performances this week, Suen said he was most inspired by senior Sara Steimel.
“I was most proud of Sara Steimel this week,” he said. “She is someone who is hitting on all cylinders right now and it gets me excited seeing her destroy her personal records every week and motivates me to do better.”
Steimel is a distance runner who holds three UCA indoor records — the one-mile with a time of 4:51.73, the 300-meter with a time of 9:30.25 and the distance medley with a time of 11:37.54.
Senior Anna Bommes, Sophomore Madeline Hill and Sophomore Grace Deshotels also hold the record for the distance medley.
Weaver said, “Our goals are always to get ready for the conference championship and postseason competitions.”
Suen said his goal for the next week is to build up his performance in his races.
“What I want to work on for the next meet is being more aggressive in my 200,” he said. “Sometimes I get too comfortable because I run a good first 100 and don’t stay on the gas. So being continuously aggressive and staying on the gas so I can see the time I want.”
The Bears will travel to Searcy on April 6 for the Bison Open, hosted by Harding University.
More information about the track and field team can be found at ucasports.com or on Instagram, @ucaxctf.