BOSTON, Mass. — UTSA received a third-place performance from Mia Hicks in the shot put and a total of three marks that now rank among the top five in program history to highlight its day of action at Friday's John Thomas Terriers Classic.
"The women had a good day," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox said. "They looked much better than they did two weeks ago at Texas A&M. This was a positive step in preparing ourselves for the Conference USA Championship meet.
Hicks placed third (second-best collegian) in the shot put with a personal-best measurement of 44-11 ½ (13.70m), a mark that stands fourth on the program's all-time performance chart. The freshman from Conroe now ranks third on Conference USA's season list. Becky O'Brien (unattached) won the event with a put of 53-9 ¼ (16.39m) and Kelsey Crawford (UMass) won the silver medal with her toss of 45-9 ¾ (13.96m).
"It felt great to PR in the shot put, but I think there is so much more in me," Hicks said "I'll be ready for bigger throws when conference rolls around."
Meanwhile, Shalise Borden continued to move up the Roadrunners' all-time weight throw list after registering a toss of 53-8 ¼ (16.36m), which was good for seventh place in the field of 69 athletes. The junior from Marana, Ariz., now stands in third place in school history after opening her Roadrunners' career with the fourth-best mark.
Caroline Bellows cleared 11-5 ¾ (3.50m) in the pole vault, which was the third-best performance in school history, and the freshman from George West placed 10th in the 38-woman field. The mark currently ranks third on the league leaderboard.
"Going to Boston with my teammates was an experience I will never forget," said Shantel Swift, a senior who ran on UTSA's 12th-place 1,600-meter relay (3:48.57) in addition to competing in the 800m. "The historical sites and the character of the city and buildings were amazing to see. Competing in a meet this size brought an energy when I stepped on the track that I've never felt before."
The Roadrunners will return to action next weekend at the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station. The two-day meet is scheduled to begin on Friday, Feb. 5.