BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bashiru Abdullahi and Jemuel Miller each claimed gold medals in record-setting performances to lead the UTSA men to a third-place finish at the Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Sunday at Birmingham CrossPlex.
Abdullahi tied the meet record and improved his own school standard in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.77 seconds. The native of Nigeria got off to a good start and cruised to his second win in three tries at the league's annual indoor meet after a runner-up finish in 2021. It marked UTSA's 11th all-time conference gold in the event, including the third in the last five years.
Meanwhile, Miller remained unbeaten in the triple jump in four meets during his true freshman campaign with a record-breaking performance. Entering his sixth and final attempt in second place, the Barbados native skipped to a mark of 16.09m (52-9.5) to capture his first league crown and eclipse the previous UTSA mark of 15.99m (52-5.5) set by Devon Bond in 2010. Miller, who also placed fourth in the long jump on Saturday, gives the Roadrunners three consecutive triple jump wins at the C-USA Indoor and it marks the sixth league title in the event all time.
The Roadrunners scored 91.5 points to edge UTEP (91) for third place, finishing behind only Charlotte (155.5) and Middle Tennessee (94). It marked UTSA's second straight third-place finish and the eight consecutive top-three showing at the C-USA Indoor. In fact, the Roadrunners now have finished third or better in all but one conference indoor meet dating back to 2005.
On the track, Diego Pettorossi reeled off a record-setting race in the 200m for the second time in less than 24 hours. The Italian clocked a time of 21.04 to better the school standard of 21.15 he established in the prelims on Saturday night. An All-America transfer from Angelo State, he earned the silver medal on Sunday with teammate Jose Garcia claiming the bronze in 21.42 and Trevion McCalla placing sixth in 21.70.
Pettorossi also added five points to the team tally with a fourth-place finish in the 60m, clocking a time of 6.79. He also anchored the 4x400m relay to a bronze medal, joining Brice Chabot, Logan Masters and Noah Rhodes for a season-best 3:15.05.
Joel McFarlane secured his second straight silver medal in the heptathlon with a career showing. Entering the final day with 3,105 points, the Monikie, Scotland, native clocked a time of 8.56 in the 60 meters worth 846 points before clearing 4.39m (14-4.75) for 728 more in the pole vault. He closed out the seven-event competition with a 2:46.65 clocking in the 1,000m to finish with 5,480 points, 331 better than his previous PR of 5,149 from last year's C-USA Indoor. He now stands fifth on UTSA's all-time performers list in the event.
In other action, Grant Szalek collected his fifth career C-USA medal with a third-place finish in the triple jump after measuring 15.36m (50-4.75), an indoor personal best. Jorge Ayala finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 16.31m (53-6.25) and Mike Roth took seventh in the 400m with a time of 48.58.
On Saturday, UTSA piled up 19 points in the long jump behind a 2-3-4 finish. Sam Healy leaped to the third C-USA silver medal of his UTSA career with a mark of 7.56m (24-9.75). Christiaan Le Roux nabbed the bronze (7.35m/24-1.5) and Miller turned in a season-best measurement of 7.33m (24-0.75) for fourth.
The Roadrunners will await word of what athletes qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held March 11-12 at Birmingham CrossPlex.
UTSA Results
60 Meters (prelims)
5. Diego Pettorossi 6.76Q
9. Jose Garcia 6.85
10. Trevion McCalla 6.87
18. Brice Chabot 7.07
60 Meters (final)
4. Diego Pettorossi 6.79
200 Meters (prelims)
1. Diego Pettorossi 21.15q
4. Jose Garcia 21.56q
5. Trevion McCalla 21.59q
17. Brice Chabot 22.19
200 Meters (final)
2. Diego Pettorossi 21.04
3. Jose Garcia 21.42
6. Trevion McCalla 21.70
400 Meters (prelims)
4. Mike Roth 48.53q
14. Logan Masters 49.86
15. Noah Rhodes 50.55
400 Meters (final)
7. Mike Roth 48.58
800 Meters (prelims)
16. Daniel Morales 1:57.14
20. Victor Charo 1:58.29
Mile (prelims)
15. Michael Paredes 4:20.15
19. JD Corona 4:26.65
60-Meter Hurdles (prelims)
2. Bashiru Abdullahi 7.93Q
10. Gabriel Green 8.81
60-Meter Hurdles (final)
1. Bashiru Abdullahi 7.77
4x400-Meter Relay
3. UTSA (Brice Chabot, Logan Masters, Noah Rhodes, Diego Pettorossi) 3:15.05
Distance Medley Relay
9. UTSA (Daniel Morales, Noah Rhodes, JD Corona, Michael Paredes) 10:38.79
High Jump
5. Grant Szalek 2.04m (6-8.25)
Pole Vault
7. Jonathan Barraza 4.59m (15-0.75)
- Marcus Ramirez NH
Long Jump
2. Sam Healy 7.56 (24-9.75)
3. Christiaan Le Roux 7.35 (24-1.5)
4. Jemuel Miller 7.33m (24-0.75)
Triple Jump
1. Jemuel Miller 16.09m (52-9.5)
3. Grant Szalek 15.36m (50-4.75)
9. Christiaan Le Roux 14.28m (46-10.25)
Shot Put
6. Jorge Ayala 16.31m (53-6.25)
13. Angel Robles 15.10m (49-6.5)
Weight Throw
14. Jorge Ayala 14.31m (46-11.5)
16. Angel Robles 13.87m (45-6.25)
Heptathlon
2. Joel McFarlane 5,480 — 60 Meters (7.05/865); Long Jump (7.19m/859); Shot Put (13.00m/667); High Jump (1.90m/714); 60-Meter Hurdles (8.56/846); Pole Vault (4.39m/728); 1,000 Meters (2:46.65/801)
9. Justin Wright 4,170 — 60 Meters (7.78/625); Long Jump (6.10m/608); Shot Put (10.09m/491); High Jump (1.81m/636); 60-Meter Hurdles (9.02/741); Pole Vault (3.69m/533); 1,000 Meters (3:13.78/536)
-UTSA-
