Newcomers Compete at Jet Relays

LANCASTER, Texas - The University of Dallas men's track and field team competed in the Jet Relays in Lancaster, Texas on Saturday.  The field consisted of 11 teams from across all divisions and associations.  

Nico Walz and James Latour both ran the 5,000 meters for the Crusaders.  Walz showed great poise, finishing in fifth place with three runners from Division I Grambling State taking all three spots on the podium.  James Latour was around the middle of the pack as well, setting a PR with a final time of 18:03.60.

Nine Crusaders ran in the 100 meters, most of them newcomers.  Uniikye Washington finished just .02 seconds outside the top 10 and was .27 seconds off the podium with a time of 11.66.  DaShaun Merritt, Harland Acker, Chris Easterday, TJ Williams, Cayden DisSarro, Lou Christifano, and Phil Ashton all made their debits in the event.  Merritt and Acker finished side by side with times of 12.03 and 12.09.  Michael White and Sam Dixon each made their debut in the shot put, recording their first career marks.

"This was a great meet for us because local meets in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are so rare.  It was great for our team that they didn't have to travel so far," said head coach Nick Schneigert.  "Our distance athletes ran like veterans again today, and our newbies did great in their first time out."