AUSTIN, TX – McNeese State track and field athletes David Rooney, Johnathan Koenck, Jarrett LeBlanc and Amy Guinn all came up with personal bests Wednesday during the opening day of the Texas Relays.
These were the only Cowboys and Cowgirls competing the first day of the national meet.
Rooney and Koenck produced third place finishes, LeBlanc a fifth and Guinn a 12th.
“Very good efforts,” was the way McNeese coach Brendon Gilroy termed the opening day for his squad. “All four of them came away with pr’s (personal records).”
Rooney, running the 5,000 meters for the first time this season, clocked out in 14:35.74 which is the sixth fastest mark in McNeese history.
Lamar’s Samuel Kosgei won the event in 14:14.74.
Guinn ran an 18:05.89 in her first attempt at the 5,000 meters this season. UTEP’s Kathya Garcia was the winner at 16:53.64.
Koenck and LeBlanc ran third and fifth in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Koenck posted a 9:33.21 and LeBlanc ran 9:49.50.
No McNeese athlete will compete on Thursday while Lindsay Brooks (high jump), Meriah Young (javelin), Ben Chretien (javelin) and Jacob Domingue (shot put) will perform on Friday.
Distance runner Jordan Neil was slated to run in the 1500 meters also but has scratched out of the meet because of an injury.