The SHSU men’s track and field team took first at the Rice Bayou Classic in Houston this weekend. The Bearkats dominated in nine of 13 events.

Three NCAA regional qualifying marks from James Thomas and T.J. Cretors highlighted the weekend for Sam Houston.

Thomas and Cretors competed in the javelin, getting marks at 211-11 and 198-11 respectively.

“Getting their marks in the javelin was big,” said head track and field coach Greg Hinze. “The winds were not great for throwing so that just means they can throw a lot further in the right conditions.”

Junior Joe Amburn placed first in the 1500-meter running at time of 3:52.49. Raul Villarreal got fourth and Isai Llanes placed eighth.

“I thought Joe Amburn ran really well for his first outdoor meet and Brandon Moseley ran well in his first ever steeplechase event,” Hinze said.

Moseley ran for a time of 9:55.20 to give him a fourth place finish in the steeplechase.

Sam Houston State’s standings were at 186, dominating the hometown boys from Rice who came in second place. Harvard placed third and Stephen F. Austin got fifth place with standings at only 26.

Several Bearkats from the men’s team got to shine this weekend. Chris Stewart, a red-shirt last year, took first in the long jump at 22 feet, 8 inches.

Randy Flach took home first in the pole vault, the event that produced qualifying marks for SHSU in the season opener.

Junior Caleb Seal threw 156-7 in the discus, receiving the first place position. Clint Gallagher took second, throwing 151-1.

Gallagher also placed second in the shot put with a 49-3.50 throw.

The men’s 4×100-meter relay team also took first this weekend. Adrian Ray, Courtney Boston, Aaron Russell and Chris Stewart rocketed around the track with a time of 41.21.

In the high jump, Joel McGowan got second place for SHSU with a mark of 6-4.25.

Sophomore Adrian Ray placed first at 14.34 in the 111 hurdles. Shandy Oncken came in second at 16.00.

The Bearkats took home first place in the 400-meter with a 49.35 run by Aaron Russell. Russell is a freshman walk-on who Hinze said the team couldn’t do without.

Courtney Boston also placed first in the 100-meter at 10.96.

The 4×400-meter team of Russell, Stewart, Oncken and Shane Christian, came in second at 3:18.32.

The women’s team took second in the meet with a NCAA qualifying mark in the pole vault by Jennie Sewell.

Sarah Hershman took first place in the steeplechase running a time of 11:47.90.

“Hershman was outstanding, running that event for the first time,” Hinze said. “If she fixes her first couple of water jumps, she can shave another 10 seconds off her time.”

In the long jump, Kym Norsworthy placed second at 18-3. Tiara Young and Chenequa Parham took fourth and fifth.

Joyce Oyakhire and Kym Norsworthy took second and third respectively in the 200-meter.

The women’s 4×400-meter relay team of Quantinette Fields, Tiara Young, Rachele Stevenson and Crystal Anderson took second with a time of 3:55.78.

The 4×100-meter team also placed second at 46.78.

Robin Pullen came in third in the javelin, throwing 128-5.

The lady Bearkats had their share of first places. Tenika Powell took first in the shot put throwing 45-3.50. Stacy Nicholson placed fifth and Renitta Woods got sixth.

Powell also took first place in the discus throwing 147-2, barely missing the NCAA Regional with both throws.

In the 100-meter hurdles, Woods came in second with a mark of 14.65.

Joyce Oyakhire took second in the 100-meter with a 12.29 run. Norsworthy, Stevenson and Chenequa Parham placed third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Lauren Kersher ran the 400-meter hurdles in 66.35 receiving third place for SHSU.

The track and field team headed to Austin Tuesday for the Texas Relays that run through April 5.