Ashton Callahan won men’s 400 in his first collegiate race in that event, Melanie Duron claimed the top spot in the women’s shot put, and seven other Bobcats set a personal- best on Saturday as Texas State track and field completed its weekend at the Bobcat Invitational and Texas Relays.
Callahan, a redshirt senior who transferred to Texas State before last season, ran 46.42 in the 400, which was the best time by a Bobcat in the event this year and second-fastest in the Sun Belt. The Sweeny, Texas native had never run a distance greater than 400 meters as individual in a collegiate meet and only ran in the 4x400 relay once prior.
Duron claimed first in the shot put in an outdoor meet for the third straight week as she recorded a toss of 16.34 meters/53-7.25 on Saturday. The Laredo, Texas native won at the UTSA Invitational and Charles Austin Classic before the fourth first-place finish (one in indoor) of her young Bobcat career this weekend.
A pair of freshmen also reached the podium in their respective events. Elisabet Runarsdottir placed third in the women’s hammer throw with a personal-best of 64.12 meters/ 210-4. The toss was 10th-best in school history and a freshman record. Abigail Parra, meanwhile, ran a personal-best 4:56.86 in the women’s 1500 meter to place third. It was the first time she broke the five-minute barrier as she has shaved five-plus seconds off her season-opening time in the event in consecutive meets.
At the Texas Relays, senior Sedrickia Wynn ran 23.10 in the women’s 200 invite to register the seventh- fastest time in school history and a PR.
In addition to Runarsdottir, Parra and Wynn, other Bobcats who had PRs on Saturday included Ayesha Nelson (14.06, 100 meter hurdles), Price Janecek (2:20.20, women’s 800), Avery Veiseh (1:55.29, men’s 800) and Deborah Bulai (62.17m/204-0, women’s hammer throw).
Overall, Texas State had five first-place finishes at the Bobcat Invitational. Simon Thor (decathlon) and Chris Preddie (men’s long jump) won on Friday.