CANYON, TX –West Texas A&M Track and Field had 18 student-athletes place within the top five in 15 events out of 21 colleges at the Masked Rider Open held at Texas Tech University Fuller Track and Field Complex.

MASKED RIDER OPEN
The throwing events took place on Friday, March 24 as the running and jumping events took place on Saturday, March 25. Starting strong for the Buffs was sophomore Luke Holcombe, who took first place in the shot put (16.69m) on Friday.
 
The high jump event had both Lady Buffs and a Buff place within the top five, with Brooke Urban taking second (1.71m) overall and Taylor Nelloms jumping into fifth (1.66m). For the Buffs, sophomore Seniru Amarasinghe, placed second with his efforts (2.07m).
 
A Lady Buff placed in each jumping event with Daniela Pesic taking second in long jump (5.92m) and Stefani Vasileva placing fifth in triple jump (11.48m).Hope Gray threw in the discus event and took back third place (38.44m).
 
GOING THE DISTANCE
From sprints to distance, WT had quite a few outstanding performances from both the Lady Buffs and Buffs. Betty Bajika, sophomore, had another great weekend following up her performance at the WT Spring Break Open; Bajika placed second in the 1500m (4:34.73). Raquel Chavez followed closely behind in the 1500m placing fifth (4:43.36).
 
Junior, Dylan Gilliam, didn't run distance but he did sprint in his event of pole vaulting where he reached a personal record of 4.61m (15-1.50). He was just shy of placing in the top ten at the Masked Rider Open.
 
TOP FIVE RESULTS
Lady Buffs
[4X100] 2^nd-Jordanae' Scott, Leah Belfield, Alana Wilson, DeOndra Green – 44.86
[100m] 3^rd- DeOndra Green – 11.54
[100m] 5^th- Leah Belfield – 11.57
[200m] 2^nd- Corrssia Perry – 23.76
[1500m] 2^nd- Betty Bajika – 4:34.74
[1500m] 5^th- Raquel Chavez – 4:43.36
[100mH] 3^rd- Laiten Greeson – 13.99
[High Jump] 2^nd- Brooke Urban – 1.71m | 5-7.25
[High Jump] 5^th- Taylor Nelloms – 1.66m | 5-5.25
[Long Jump] 2^nd- Daniela Pesic – 5.92m | 19-5.25
[Triple Jump] 5^th- Stefani Vasileva – 11.48m | 37-8
[Discus] 3^rd- Hope Gray – 38.44m | 126-1
 
Buffs
[4X100] 2^nd-Joseph Manu, Jerry Japka, Jalen Purcell, Issac Botsio – 39.60
[1500m] 4^th- Louis Moreau – 3:56.60
[1500m]5^th- Calvin Allen – 3:57.31
[400mH] 5^th- Kanyon Mosley – 53.70
[High Jump] 2^nd- Seniru Amarasinghe – 2.07m | 6-9.50
[Shot put] 1^st- Luke Holcombe – 16.69m | 54-9.25
 
UP NEXT
West Texas A&M will compete at the Texas Relays from March 29-April 1 at the Mike A. Myers Stadium at University of Texas in Austin, Texas.