May 16, 2009

HOUSTON- After a 45 minute break due to lightning warnings in the area, the final day of the Great West Conference Championships concluded Saturday and the University of Texas-Pan American men and women's track team finished in fourth and third respectively.

"I was extremely pleased on how our team performed," first-year head coach Dave Hartman said. "We knew we were a little short handed coming into the meet and we did everything we could and that's the one thing I always ask of them."

In the 800-meter run junior Wally Gonzalez placed first with a time of 1:54.78 and senior J.J. Hernandez captured two GWC titles in the 3000 meter steeplechase and in the 5000 meter run with times of 9:14.96 and 15:03.19 respectively.

Junior and Edinburg native Omar Doria finished first in the 1500 meter run with a time of 3:53.16 with Luis Nava, Hernandez, Gonzalez, and Gilroy Martinez finishing in fourth through seventh place.

In the women's discus throw the Lady Broncs captured first and third. Stephanie Perez took the gold with a throw of 48.24 meters and San Antonio native Amanda Ferris settled for the bronze with a throw of 41.44 meters. Both ladies will be competing in the NCAA Regional Championships.

"It was really nice for the senior throwers to come out and do what they did," Hartman said. "They (women throwers) scored almost 70 points to go out on a tremendous note."

In the women's triple jump Liliana Cavazos finished in second place with a jump of 11.66 meters. University of South Dakota sophomore took the gold with a jump of 11.68 meters.

Up next for some of the members of the team will be Regionals May 29 in Norman, Okla.