Houston leaves mark in College Station with seven victories at Charlie Thomas Invitational

Houston track & field opened February with a statement performance at the Charlie Thomas Invitational, piling up seven victories and program history marks across two days of competition at Texas A&M. 

Friday’s action saw three of Houston’s seven first-place finishes across the weekend.

Sophomore Esther Osisike set the tone early, capturing the women’s weight throw title with a mark of 19.84 meters. Senior Zaeda Houff added a third-place finish in the event at 17.70 meters.

Junior Cordell Nwokeji followed with a personal-best 19.25 meters to win the men’s shot put, moving up to fourth on Houston’s all-time list. 

Junior Antrea Mita secured his second victory of the season in the men’s high jump, clearing a season-best 2.18 meters.

Freshman Dominic Harper produced one of the day’s signature performances, finishing second in the men’s 200 meters in a personal-best 20.64 seconds. 

The time places Harper fourth in program history and makes him the first Cougar freshman to break 20.70. Harper is also one of only two freshmen nationally this season to run under 21 seconds.

Houston’s momentum continued Saturday with wins in both field and track events.

Sophomore Cleo Agyepong won the women’s shot put with a personal-best throw of 16.72 meters. The mark moved her to third in program history. Osisike added another personal best at 15.57 meters, climbing to sixth all-time. 

Freshman Shieana Hall captured her first collegiate victory in the women’s triple jump with a personal-best leap of 12.67 meters.

On the track, graduate Jamar Marshall Jr. marked his return with a victory in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, clocking 7.63 seconds. Freshman Zac Miller delivered a historic run in the men’s mile, winning in a personal-best 3 minutes, 59.97 seconds. 

Miller becomes just the third Cougar to break the four-minute barrier, joining Brian Barraza and Leonard Hilton. Redshirt freshman Addison Hite moved to second on Houston’s all-time women’s mile list with a 4:46.51 finish.

Sophomore Evina Panagiotou added to the record-setting weekend by raising her own school record in the women’s pole vault, clearing a personal-best 4.25 meters.

Houston closed the meet with a third-place finish in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, where sophomore Carlysia Cresser, junior Michaela Mouton, freshman Jada Stanford and freshman Kamree Wolridge combined for a 3:35.85 effort.

The Cougars return home Friday, Feb. 13, to host their final indoor meet of the season at the Howie Ryan Invitational.