Laura Roesler and Texas Tech Deliver at UTSA Team Challenge

Mar 21, 2015 by Taylor Dutch

The UTSA Team Challenge saw several NCAA-leading marks and impressive outdoor debuts from all corners of the track, including former Oregon Duck Laura Roesler who opened the 2015 outdoor season in style with a win in the women’s 800m to just barely edge out training partner Dana Mecke Saturday in San Antonio, Texas.

On a rainy day at the UTSA track, the Bowerman winner took the race out aggressively, splitting 1:31 for the first 600m with the lead, but Mecke rounded the final turn to power through the homestretch and run up on Roesler’s heels at the line. It was ultimately Roesler who crossed first in 2:03.99, followed by Mecke in 2:04.00.

Roesler and Mecke are currently training together in San Antonio under the guidance of renowned 800m coach Rose Monday. Monday has coached top 800m specialists, including Maggie Vessey, and was the 2012 U.S. Women’s Olympic Distance Coach.

Texas Tech’s Chris Caldwell also made his outdoor debut one week after finishing runner-up in the men’s 60m hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville. He nabbed the win over Andrew Riley in 13.60, which currently stands as the fastest time run in the NCAA this season. He returned later in the day to upset favorites Aldrich Bailey Jr. and Andrew Riley to take the victory in the men’s 100m with a winning time of 10.51.

Caldwell’s teammate Le’Tristan Pledger, who also competed at the NCAA Indoor Championships last week and captured a fourth-place finish, swept the women’s 100m hurdles with a win in 13.50. Pledger placed eighth in the 100m hurdles at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and went on to win gold at the U-23 NACAC Championships.

Fellow Red Raider Cierra White received some redemption after being disqualified in the 60m at the NCAA Indoor Championships by capturing the win in the women’s 100m with a win in 11.46, which currently stands as the No. 2 time in the country.

Kentucky’s Jasmine Mitchell busted out another NCAA-leading time with a 53.59 in the women’s 400m to take down teammate Angelica Whaley (54.13).

The men’s and women’s 200m also saw more NCAA-leading times with dominating performances from Texas Tech’s Trevor Mackey who took down the field in 20.76, and Texas’ Caitland Smith who won the women’s 200m in 23.43.

Kenyattia Heckworth of Kentucky opened her outdoor season with a standout mark in the women’s long jump, posting a 6.37m for another NCAA leading mark and taking down NCAA Indoor runner-up Sha’Keela Saunders. Saunders is returning from a runner-up finish in the women’s long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships where she finished second to Oregon’s Jenna Prandini with a mark of 6.53m.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders closed out the meet with a dominating victory in the men's 4x400 with an NCAA-leading mark of 3:10.97. Running as an unattached squad, Roesler, Mecke, Kendra Chambers, and Briana Nelson brought home the win in the women's 4x400m in a winning time of 3:42.16.