ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – The UT Tyler track and field teams delivered a statement performance Friday at the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships, highlighted by a conference title in the women's pentathlon and a commanding victory in the men's distance medley relay to cap the night.
Juliane Frueh headlined the day with a championship effort in the women's pentathlon, totaling 4,007 points to secure the gold medal. Frueh opened with 877 points in the 60-meter hurdles (9.16) before soaring to first place in the high jump at 1.74 meters to add 903 points. She continued her strong showing with another event win in the shot put (12.27 meters) for 679 points, placed sixth in the long jump (5.35 meters) to collect 657 points, and closed the competition in dominant fashion by winning the 800 meters in 2:15.13 to earn 891 points and seal the conference crown.
The Patriots added more early points in the field events as Jasmine Haywood delivered a podium finish in the women's long jump, placing third with a leap of 5.63 meters to earn six points. Jada Owens followed with a fourth-place mark of 16.47 meters in the women's weight throw, contributing five additional points to the team total.
On the track, UT Tyler sent a wave of athletes into Saturday's finals. Isabel Jakobsen qualified in the women's 60-meter hurdles with a fourth-place prelim time of 8.71. In the men's 60-meter hurdles, Brandon Arenas tied for first overall in 8.01, while Dameon Smith Jr. placed third in 8.18 as both advanced.
The 400-meter prelims produced four more qualifiers. Aerin Thompson (54.46) and Kamaria Carr (55.14) placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the women's race to move on. Preston Ayers ran 46.91 to finish third in the men's event, with Jakai Timmons close behind in 46.96 to claim the eighth and final qualifying spot.
In the 60 meters, Brandi Drake posted a 7.67 to finish fifth and advance to the women's final, while Dylan Bennett clocked 6.73 to place fourth and qualify on the men's side.
The middle-distance group added to the finals list in the 800 meters. Macy Cogburn (2:15.20) and Kymia Woodard (2:16.77) placed seventh and eighth to qualify in the women's race, while Caleb Williams secured his spot in the men's final with a sixth-place time of 1:54.21.
Finley Hunting picked up points in the women's 5,000 meters, placing sixth in 18:38.36 to earn three points for the Patriots.
Thompson later doubled back in the women's 200-meter prelims, running 24.30 to place sixth and qualify for another final. Jackson Crysup added a qualifier in the men's 200 meters with a fourth-place time of 21.35.
The women's distance medley relay team of Addison Truly, Hannah Lakin, Jasmine Haywood, and Calista Turner combined for a time of 12:30.37 to place fourth and earn five points. The exclamation point on the night came from the men's DMR squad. Chris Kopecky, Stephon Nickerson, Brandon Jimenez, and David Soto ran 10:02.87 to claim the conference title by nearly 16 seconds, securing 10 points and delivering one of the most dominant performances of the meet's opening day.
UT Tyler now turns its focus to Saturday's finals, armed with significant momentum and a deep slate of finalists looking to climb the team standings when competition resumes at 10 a.m.
