COLLEGE STATION — The UTSA men's track & field team registered a total of five podium finishes at Saturday's season-opening Texas A&M Team Invitational.
Competing for the Roadrunners for the first time since 2015, Kaylon Sellers picked up a silver medal in the triple jump with a personal-record skip of 48-4 ¾ (14.75m), a mark that now stands as the fourth-best performance in program history. Texas' O'Brien Wasome won the event with a measurement of 51-1 ½ (15.58m). Sellers also finished fifth in the long jump after breaking the sand in a career-best 22-7 ¼ (6.89m).
Meanwhile, Vasha Sheriff finished third in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 47.75, which now ranks as the fifth-fastest performance in school annals. The clocking currently leads Conference USA in the early going this season while standing 16th nationally. The Baylor duo of George Caddick (47.10) and Wil London (47.70) topped the field of 26 sprinters.
Kelsey Benoit was third in the shot put with his measurement of 56-5 ¾ (17.21m), while teammate Tyler Finke was fourth (53-7/16.33m). Texas A&M's Jeff Bartlett (57-5 ½/17.51m) and Texas State's T'Mon Johnson (57-2 ¾/17.44m) finished first and second, respectively.
Victor Perez also captured a bronze medal in his specialty event, the weight throw. The senior from San Antonio tossed the implement 59-11 (18.26m), which ranked only behind Texas A&M's Austin Cook (66-6/20.27m) and Texas' Alan Zapalac (63-4 ¾/19.32m) in the field of 19 throwers.
UTSA's other third-place finisher of the meet was Jake McDaniel, who cleared 6-8 (2.03m) in the high jump.
The 1,600m relay of Kaylan Harris, Sheriff, Desmond Jefferson and Byron Taylor passed the baton in 3:12.28, which was the third-best time in school history. Their effort was good for fifth place.
Mikael Dawkins also placed fifth in the 60m after crossing the finish line in 6.90. The sophomore from Leander qualified for the final after clocking the fourth-fastest mark (6.85) in the preliminary heats.
"I was proud of how we performed today," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox said. "It was a great way to open up our season. Many people had personal bests and that is a great way to start the year. I was extremely proud of the Roadrunners today."
The Roadrunners racked up 65.5 points en route to fifth place in the field of eight squads. Meet host Texas A&M (141) edged Texas (137) for the team title and Baylor (97) rounded out the top three.
UTSA will return to College Station next Saturday, Jan. 21, for the Texas A&M Aggies Invitational.
