BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Maia Campbell claimed gold in the shot put on Sunday to highlight three medal winners and help the UTSA women's track & field team to its best finish in three years at the Air Force Reserve Conference USA Indoor Championships, hosted by UAB at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
UTSA finished fourth in the team standings with a total of 72 points, behind Rice (110), Middle Tennessee (103) and Charlotte (78.5) and ahead of fifth-place UTEP (57). That marked the Roadrunners' best league indoor finish in three years and the second-best point total as a member of C-USA since scoring 73 for a runner-up finish in 2014.
Campbell claimed the shot put title with a career-best mark of 16.12 meters (52 feet, 10.75 inches). The senior out of Converse Judson High School registered her PR on the third of six attempts, moving her into a lead she never relinquished. Campbell, who also placed third in the weight throw on Saturday, became UTSA's fourth conference indoor champion in the event and the first in three years.
UTSA also saw Sigrid Kleive, a native of Aalesund, Norway, clear 1.73m (5-8) to capture the bronze medal in the high jump. The freshman also posted a fifth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 5.97m (19-7) on Saturday.
Junior Danielle Spence, an All-American out of Kingston, Jamaica, skipped to a mark of 12.87m (42-2.75) in the triple jump to claim bronze. She now has earned a spot on the podium in the triple jump at all six C-USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships during her UTSA career.
Lacee Barnes joined Campbell as a point-scorer in the shot put, as the junior from the Cayman Islands placed fifth with a mark of 14.17m (46-6).
On the track, senior Olivia Esemena placed fourth in the 200m dash with a career-best time of 24.41 seconds, which moved her into the No. 3 spot on UTSA's all-time performers list. She finished ahead of Taylor Armstrong – a freshman from DeSoto, Texas – who was seventh in 24.77.
Esemena, who hails from Arlington, also crossed fifth in the 60m in 7.56, while Vera Chinedu — a freshman from England — was seventh in 7.63.
Senior Darionne Gibson, a product of Converse Judson High School, ran a time of 56.35 in the 400m to place sixth.
The Roadrunners closed out the meet by taking fourth in the 4x400m relay. Gibson, Armstrong, Creshaun Cresser and Alanah Yukich passed the baton to a season-best time of 3:48.59.
The NCAA Indoor Championships are next on March 13-14 in Albuquerque, N.M.
Standings
1. Rice – 110
2. Middle Tennessee – 103
3. Charlotte – 78.5
4. UTSA – 72
5. UTEP – 57
6. Southern Miss – 55
7. North Texas – 51.5
8. Marshall – 45
9. UAB – 35
10. FIU – 20
11. Louisiana Tech – 16
12. WKU – 11
13. FAU - 9
UTSA Results
High Jump
3. Sigrid Kleive 1.73m (5-8)
12. Maren Wilms 1.6m (5-3)
400m Dash
6. Darionne Gibson 56.35
60m Dash
5. Olivia Esemena 7.56
200m Dash
4. Olivia Esemena 24.41
7. Taylor Armstrong 24.77
11. Vera Chinedu 24.69
3,00m Run
22. Briana Gonzalez 10:29.49
27. Gabby Gonzales 10:45.78
Shot Put
1. Maia Campbell 16.12m (52-10.75)
5. Lacee Barnes 14.17m (46-6)
Triple Jump
3. Danielle Spence 12.87m (42-2.75)
Pole Vault
12. Natasha Purchas 3.56m (11-8)
4x400m Relay
4. UTSA 3:48.59 (Darionne Gibson, Taylor Armstrong, Creshaun Cresser, Alanah Yukich)
- UTSA -
