College track & field: Javelinas, Islanders indoor teams bolstered by local talent
The on-again, off-again cool temperatures may suggest otherwise, but college track season is underway.
Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi have begun competition in indoor track & field.
Several Coastal Bend products have made an impact early for the Javelinas and Islanders.
In their first season at Texas A&M-Kingsville, two west Corpus Christi products have contributed for the Javelinas.
Moody graduate Lidia Lowe and West Oso's Kennedi Silmon made up half of the Javelinas' 1,600-meter relay team that finished third last week at the Washburn Open in Topeka, Kansas.
Lowe and Silmon joined Cynai Christopher and Sophia Ramirez to clock a 4:01.30 to finish third in the event.
Skidmore-Tynan grad Katryna Hernandez, a sophomore for the Javelinas, finished second in the women's shot put with a toss of 44 meters, 4.25 inches. Hernandez was the top collegiate finisher in the event.
Jonathan Harper won his second consecutive men's heptathlon competition (5,282 points) and thrower D.J. Delancey established a new personal best in the men's shot put (56-5.75), which is the 12th best mark in the country.
The Islanders had two area products perform well at the Texas Tech Invite.
Bishop's Jasmine Perez finished 16th in the women's mile with a time of 5:30.32. A&M-Corpus Christi's Quin Johnson finished seventh in the event (5:14.27).
Carroll graduate Jakob Gunter was 17th in the men's 800 meter run (1:58.05). Teammate Keenan Lawrence finished 10th.
The Islanders were led by Valentina Campos (fourth, women's 3,000m) and Trpimir Siroki (fifth, men's heptathlon).
MORE SCHEDULE CHANGES
The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tennis team has swapped home and away dates with South Texas rival UTRGV.
Due to impending weather, the Islanders will now travel to face the Vaqueros on Feb. 2 before UTRGV returns the favor in Corpus Christi on Feb. 15.
The Islanders tennis team had Tuesday's contest against Texas A&M-Kingsville canceled due to COVID-19 protocol.
SEASON OPENERS
The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball and softball teams will hit the diamond this week to begin what they hope is a journey back into the NCAA postseason.
The softball team travels to Houston for six games in the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational.
The baseball squad goes straight into Lone Star Conference play, hosting Cameron for an adjusted four-game set at Nolan Ryan Field.
The Javelinas will play a doubleheader on Saturday with single games on Sunday and Monday against the Aggies. The schedule was shifted due to potential inclement weather.
Quinton Martinez covers all things sports in South Texas. Support local coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Local talent producing for Islanders, Javelinas indoor track
