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Thursday, March 27
Houston, Texas
Rice University
vs
Victor Lopez Classic
Rice has Great Showing at Victor Lopez Classic
3/29/2025 11:17:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
HOUSTON – The Rice men's track and field team saw numerous top performances at the 42nd annual Victor Lopez Classic at the Wendel D. Ley Track, claiming four event titles while posting several top 10 all-time marks throughout the three-day meet.
On Friday, Sultan Bakare and Daniel Sowell opened the collegiate portion of the meet with a second and third-place showing in the hammer throw.
Andrew Murray later shined in his season debut to claim the steeplechase title, with Gus Gannon a second behind to finish in second.
Ben Tijerina closed Friday night by claiming the event title in the 10000m with a time of 30:27.86, ranking ninth all-time at Rice.
Saturday opened with Bakare and Jorge Hinojosa posting 17-plus-meter throws to finish third and fourth in the shot put.
Juan Marais later claimed the discus title with a throw of 56.47m to move into fifth all-time at Rice.
Aryan Padaruth finished the field events with a second-place in the javelin, with a final mark just show of 70 meters at 69.63m.
On the track, Elliot Metcalf and Gus Gannon took first and third in the 1500m, while William Thames added a second-place finish in the 800m.
Post Meet Reaction - Head Coach Jon Warren
"This was a great meet. We had so many great performances from Juan, Sultan, Jorge and Aryan to name a few. Ben won the 10k with a personal best. Andrew had a personal best to win the steeplechase, with Gus right behind in second. Elliot had a great race in the 1500m. William Thames with a great run of 1:50.00. This was a very successful and exciting meet in both placing and in marks. Overall, this was very positive for us and should be a stepping stone for what we want to accomplish this season.
RESULTS (Top Finishers)
400m
6. Jakob Gilbreth – 48.68s
800m
2. William Thames – 1:50.00
1500m
1. Elliot Metcalf – 3:46.23
3. Gus Gannon – 3:47.85
4x100
6. Trinidad, Shurpalekar, Schott, Judge – 46.70
4x400
7. Gilbreth, Adeyiga, Judge, Ma – 3:28.99
Shot Put
3. Sultan Bakare – 17.32m (56-10.00) (No. 9 Rice All-Time)
4. Jorge Hinojosa – 17.01m (55-09.75)
7. Daniel Sowell – 16.73m (54-10.75)
Discus
1. Juan Marais – 56.47m (185-03) (No. 5 Rice All-Time)
4. Daniel Sowell – 46.65m (153-00)
6. Jorge Hinojosa – 45.24m (148-05)
High Jump
4. Theodoros Katopodis – 1.85m (6-00.75)
Javelin
2. Aryan Padaruth – 69.63m (228-05)
10. Luke Ivy – 49.12m (161-02)
Pole Vault
8. William Hagemeier – 4.30m (14-01.25)
10. Matt Kumar – 4.30m (14-01.25)
FRIDAY RESULTS
3000m Steeplechase
1. Andrew Murray – 8:57.95
2. Gus Gannon – 8:58.30
6. Brandon Martz – 9:26.49
7. Caleb Wilson – 9:36.90
10000m
1. Ben Tijerina – 30:27.86 (No. 9 Rice All-Time)
Hammer Throw
2. Sultan Bakare – 57.27m (187-10)
4. Daniel Sowell – 56.70m (186-00)
UP NEXT
The Owls will be back in action next weekend at the Tom Tellez Invite at the University of Houston.
On Friday, Sultan Bakare and Daniel Sowell opened the collegiate portion of the meet with a second and third-place showing in the hammer throw.
Andrew Murray later shined in his season debut to claim the steeplechase title, with Gus Gannon a second behind to finish in second.
Ben Tijerina closed Friday night by claiming the event title in the 10000m with a time of 30:27.86, ranking ninth all-time at Rice.
Saturday opened with Bakare and Jorge Hinojosa posting 17-plus-meter throws to finish third and fourth in the shot put.
Juan Marais later claimed the discus title with a throw of 56.47m to move into fifth all-time at Rice.
Aryan Padaruth finished the field events with a second-place in the javelin, with a final mark just show of 70 meters at 69.63m.
On the track, Elliot Metcalf and Gus Gannon took first and third in the 1500m, while William Thames added a second-place finish in the 800m.
"This was a great meet. We had so many great performances from Juan, Sultan, Jorge and Aryan to name a few. Ben won the 10k with a personal best. Andrew had a personal best to win the steeplechase, with Gus right behind in second. Elliot had a great race in the 1500m. William Thames with a great run of 1:50.00. This was a very successful and exciting meet in both placing and in marks. Overall, this was very positive for us and should be a stepping stone for what we want to accomplish this season.
400m
6. Jakob Gilbreth – 48.68s
800m
2. William Thames – 1:50.00
1500m
1. Elliot Metcalf – 3:46.23
3. Gus Gannon – 3:47.85
4x100
6. Trinidad, Shurpalekar, Schott, Judge – 46.70
4x400
7. Gilbreth, Adeyiga, Judge, Ma – 3:28.99
Shot Put
3. Sultan Bakare – 17.32m (56-10.00) (No. 9 Rice All-Time)
4. Jorge Hinojosa – 17.01m (55-09.75)
7. Daniel Sowell – 16.73m (54-10.75)
Discus
1. Juan Marais – 56.47m (185-03) (No. 5 Rice All-Time)
4. Daniel Sowell – 46.65m (153-00)
6. Jorge Hinojosa – 45.24m (148-05)
High Jump
4. Theodoros Katopodis – 1.85m (6-00.75)
Javelin
2. Aryan Padaruth – 69.63m (228-05)
10. Luke Ivy – 49.12m (161-02)
Pole Vault
8. William Hagemeier – 4.30m (14-01.25)
10. Matt Kumar – 4.30m (14-01.25)
FRIDAY RESULTS
3000m Steeplechase
1. Andrew Murray – 8:57.95
2. Gus Gannon – 8:58.30
6. Brandon Martz – 9:26.49
7. Caleb Wilson – 9:36.90
10000m
1. Ben Tijerina – 30:27.86 (No. 9 Rice All-Time)
Hammer Throw
2. Sultan Bakare – 57.27m (187-10)
4. Daniel Sowell – 56.70m (186-00)
The Owls will be back in action next weekend at the Tom Tellez Invite at the University of Houston.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Decathlon
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
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