AZUZA, CA – The West Texas A&M distance squad broke a record and placed in the top-15 in a few events at the Bryan Clay Invitational on day one. William Amponsah became the new WT school record holder in the 10,000-meter after Harry Louradour beat the school record just an hour before Amponsahs' race. 
 
SCHOOL RECORD
Harry Louradour, the junior from Le Vigen, France, broke the WT school record first in the men's 10,000-meter running in 28 minutes, 37 seconds and became the first Buff to run the event in under 29 minutes. He finished second in his heat behind unattached UCCS graduate runner Afewerki Zeru. Louradour ran a personal best tonight and beat his previous best by almost two minutes (30:12.32). 
 
William Amponsah ran just an hour after Louradour in the 10,000-meter heat one to then beat Louradour's record and become the current WT school record holder running in 28 minutes flat. This was Amponsah's debut for the 2024 outdoor season as he added his name to the top of the Buff bests in the event. Amponsah was the only one of two NCAA Divison II runners in the event as he beat out opponents from Oklahoma State, Northern Arizona, Texas, Iowa State and RMAC competitor Adams State. 
 
Both Louradour and Amponsah ran faster than the facility record (29:14.08) and Bryan Clay Invitational record, set in 2022, at the Azuza Cougar Athletic Stadium tonight. The previous WT school record was held by Owen Hind in 29 minutes, 28 seconds in 2017.
 
TOP-15 
Florance Uwajeneza had her second-best run in her career in the 10,000-meter as she finished third overall in the women's fastest heat. She ran the race in 32 minutes, 52 seconds with just three seconds shy of her personal best in the event. Uwajeneza was just one of two NCAA Divison II athletes in the DI and professionally stacked race. She finished just behind Bowerman athlete Parker Valby who placed first and BYU's Jenna Hutchins in second. The graduate from St. Paul, Minnesota beat out opponents from Texas, University of Miami, Alabama and UC Irvine to name a few. 
 
Elise Leveel, a junior from Carquebut, France, ran her personal best time in the women's third heat of the 10,000-meter in 35 minutes, 1 second. She finished 13^th out of 23 in the event with a faster time over opponents from Utah, Louisville, Southern Mississippi and Iowa State.
 
COMING UP
The WT Buffs and Lady Buffs will have a much earlier start tomorrow, April 12^th, with the first race taking place at 9:00 a.m. CT with junior Adrian Legarreta in the men's 10,000m. Following will be Olivia McLain at 10:05 a.m. in the women's 10,000m. Full event lists can be found of WTAMUTrackXC social media pages or at the Live Results.