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Saturday, February 18
Birmingham, Alabama
Rice University
vs
Conference USA Championship
Photo by: Michael Wade
Owls Finish Third at C-USA Championships
2/19/2023 7:32:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM – The Rice men's track and field team had a great showing from start to finish at the 2023 Conference USA Indoor Championships in Birmingham AL. The Owls saw four event titles and finished third as a team, marking the best indoor finish since the 2009 season (third place) while the 95.5 points are the most for Rice since 2015 (99.5 points). The Owls also saw Gus Gannon earn the Freshman of the Meet honor following his performances in the DMR and 3000m.
SATURDAY'S RECAP
The Owls first big win came from a reliable source as Alexander Slinkman broke the C-USA record in the pole vault with a height of 5.39m (17-08.25) while also claiming the event title for the second time in his career (2021). The event win for Slinkman is also the third-straight year a Rice athlete has won the even with Natan Rivera winning last season. Rivera finished third in the event while Matt Kumar took fourth, resulting in 21 points for Rice.
Nick Hicks shine once again claiming the weight throw title for the third-straight year with a distance of 21.09m (69-02.50) while Shaun Kerry took third. The men's distance medley team of Elliot Metcalf, Dominik Skorjanc, Ronen Oosthuizen and Gus Gannon struck first place as well. Ese Amata also had a strong showing with a second-place finish in the high jump.
SUNDAY'S RECAP
Rice began Sunday's action with a bang as Elian Ahmar and Sam Welsh went one-two in the shot put. Jorge Hinojosa was close behind in fourth place as the Owls grabbed 23 points from the event.
The Owls also had a strong showing in several running events, with Gannon finishing third in the 3000m and Metcalf taking third in the mile. The 4x400 team of Zach Neuman, Kevin Schott, Connor McGrath and Skorjanc secured the third place finish for the Owls with a fifth-place finish in the event.
Post Meet Reaction - Head Coach Jon Warren
SATURDAY
"Great day. It's not often that we get so many guys on the podium on day one. First and third in the hammer; first and third (and fourth) in the pole vault, first in that DMR and second in the high jump is just awesome. And Alexander Slinkman setting a new conference record is just the icing on the cake."
SUNDAY
"Today had some twists and turns that fell mostly our way and the end result was a hard-fought third-place team finish. We had a small squad, but they came through. This was exemplified by the bunch of medals these guys took. Starting with the shot put where the guys went 1-2-4, with Elian and Sam going 1-2 and Jorge taking fourth (just one centimeter out of third on his last throw). On the track, Elliot ran a great race in the mile garnishing third and Gus not only took third in the 3k, he set the new school record and earned freshman of the meet honors. To top it off, the 4x400 ran just fast enough to nip one point from UTEP and allow for a ½ point over them in the final team score. In short, this group was exceptional and I hope we can keep that momentum going outdoors."
RESULTS (SATURDAY)
DMR
1. Metcalf, Skorjanc, Oosthuizen, Gannon – 9:58.01
High Jump
2. Amata – 6-10.25
7. Patrick Elizondo – 6-02.25
Pole Vault
1. Slinkman – 17-08.25
3. Rivera – 16-04.50
4. Kumar – 16-00.50
Weight Throw
1. Hicks– 69-02.50
3. Kerry – 62-10.75
RESULTS (SUNDAY)
4x400 Relay
5. Nueman, Schott, McGrath, Skorjanc – 3:19.36
Shot Put
1. Ahmar – 57-09.50
2. Welsh – 56-10.25
4. Jorge Hinojosa – 55-09.25
10. Chris Rivera – 46-07.25
3000m
3. Gannon – 8:03.61
Mile
3. Metcalf – 4:08.31
10. Davis Thames – 4:17.75
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Charlotte 159
2. UTSA 136
3. Rice 95.5
4. UTEP 95
5. MTSU 81.5
6. North Texas 48
7. LA Tech 26
8. WKU 19
SATURDAY'S RECAP
The Owls first big win came from a reliable source as Alexander Slinkman broke the C-USA record in the pole vault with a height of 5.39m (17-08.25) while also claiming the event title for the second time in his career (2021). The event win for Slinkman is also the third-straight year a Rice athlete has won the even with Natan Rivera winning last season. Rivera finished third in the event while Matt Kumar took fourth, resulting in 21 points for Rice.
Nick Hicks shine once again claiming the weight throw title for the third-straight year with a distance of 21.09m (69-02.50) while Shaun Kerry took third. The men's distance medley team of Elliot Metcalf, Dominik Skorjanc, Ronen Oosthuizen and Gus Gannon struck first place as well. Ese Amata also had a strong showing with a second-place finish in the high jump.
SUNDAY'S RECAP
Rice began Sunday's action with a bang as Elian Ahmar and Sam Welsh went one-two in the shot put. Jorge Hinojosa was close behind in fourth place as the Owls grabbed 23 points from the event.
The Owls also had a strong showing in several running events, with Gannon finishing third in the 3000m and Metcalf taking third in the mile. The 4x400 team of Zach Neuman, Kevin Schott, Connor McGrath and Skorjanc secured the third place finish for the Owls with a fifth-place finish in the event.
SATURDAY
"Great day. It's not often that we get so many guys on the podium on day one. First and third in the hammer; first and third (and fourth) in the pole vault, first in that DMR and second in the high jump is just awesome. And Alexander Slinkman setting a new conference record is just the icing on the cake."
SUNDAY
"Today had some twists and turns that fell mostly our way and the end result was a hard-fought third-place team finish. We had a small squad, but they came through. This was exemplified by the bunch of medals these guys took. Starting with the shot put where the guys went 1-2-4, with Elian and Sam going 1-2 and Jorge taking fourth (just one centimeter out of third on his last throw). On the track, Elliot ran a great race in the mile garnishing third and Gus not only took third in the 3k, he set the new school record and earned freshman of the meet honors. To top it off, the 4x400 ran just fast enough to nip one point from UTEP and allow for a ½ point over them in the final team score. In short, this group was exceptional and I hope we can keep that momentum going outdoors."
DMR
1. Metcalf, Skorjanc, Oosthuizen, Gannon – 9:58.01
High Jump
2. Amata – 6-10.25
7. Patrick Elizondo – 6-02.25
Pole Vault
1. Slinkman – 17-08.25
3. Rivera – 16-04.50
4. Kumar – 16-00.50
Weight Throw
1. Hicks– 69-02.50
3. Kerry – 62-10.75
RESULTS (SUNDAY)
4x400 Relay
5. Nueman, Schott, McGrath, Skorjanc – 3:19.36
Shot Put
1. Ahmar – 57-09.50
2. Welsh – 56-10.25
4. Jorge Hinojosa – 55-09.25
10. Chris Rivera – 46-07.25
3000m
3. Gannon – 8:03.61
Mile
3. Metcalf – 4:08.31
10. Davis Thames – 4:17.75
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Charlotte 159
2. UTSA 136
3. Rice 95.5
4. UTEP 95
5. MTSU 81.5
6. North Texas 48
7. LA Tech 26
8. WKU 19
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault/Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
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