Compiled Results: Texas Relays | Bobcat Invitational
CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M's
Innocent Murwanashyaka and
Eleonora Curtabbi broke the men's and women's 3,000-meter steeplechase record as WT opened competition at the Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational on Thursday.
WT returns to the action tomorrow morning starting off with a 4x100 at the Texas Relays at 9:35 a.m. while the Bobcat Invitational will resume for WT with the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 5:35 p.m. in San Marcos.
Texas Relays
Eleonora Curtabbi shattered her previous school record as she picked up a victory in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Turin, Italy native crossed the line in 10:16.66 to defeat Kansas' Lona Latema by 10-seconds. Her provisional mark is the fastest time in Division II this season as she broke her record by nearly 26-seconds.
On the men's side,
Innocent Murwanashyaka placed fourth in the men's 3,000m steeplechase with a record-breaking 9:00.61. The junior gradually made his way from ninth to finish in the top five after running 1:14.37 in the final lap. Murwanashyaka passes the previous 9:02.12 record set by Dylan Doss in 2013 with the nation's leading time.
Butare Rugenerwa finished fifth in the 800m after running the second-fastest outdoor time in school history. The junior rank a provisional mark 1:49.83 as the only Division II competitor in a field of 14.
Bassem Hemeida, the Lone Star Conference Track Athlete of the Week, ran 51.05 in the first round of the 400-meter hurdles to qualify for the finals set for Friday evening.
Bobcat Invitational
Raquel Chavez finished fifth in the 1,500-meter run at the Bobcat Invitational, running 4:48.13 as the top Division II finisher.