COMPLETE RESULTS

AWARD WINNERS

PHOTO GALLERY

Abilene, Texas – Senior James Washington set the school record in the 400-meter dash and anchored the winning 4x400-meter relay squad to help propel the Concordia University Texas men's track & field team to a second-place finish among five schools with 131 points at the American Southwest Conference Championships on Saturday, Apr. 27 at the HSU Track & Field Complex. The Tornados shattered program bests for highest team finish and point total at the championship meet by breaking four school records.

Washington posted a runner-up finish in the 400-meters by navigating the track in 49.58 seconds, which broke the previous standard of 49.60 set by Quincy Braxton during the program's inaugural 2010 season, before running the final leg of the winning 4x400 that hit the tape first in 3:22.43. The relay also consisted of JJ Jenkins, Monté Griffin and Michael Normand.

Matt Ruhe and Normand rounded out the list of individuals who led the Tornados in the track events. Ruhe posted a pair of runner-up performances in the 100- and 200-meter dash events with times of 11.13 and 22.17, while Normand broke his own program standard in the 1,500-meter run with a third-place time of 4:11.52. Both athletes were named all-conference for their efforts.

Lucas Driscoll, Matthew Denman and Justin Gonzalez each posted a top-four finish individually to pace Concordia in the field events. Driscoll posted a second-place throw of 43-feet, 10-inches in the shot put, which was just four inches shy of his school record. Gonzalez and Denman, who were each named All-ASC, finished third and fourth in the long jump with marks of 19-8.25 and 19-3.50, respectively. Gonzalez, who racked up 18 points yesterday by most notably winning the triple jump, was also honored as the ASC Freshman Co-Athlete of the Year along with Sul Ross State's Richard Snyder.

Texas-Tyler ran away with its first-ever crown by accumulating 240 points. Concordia finished firmly in the runner-up position with 131 points, while Hardin-Simmons (113), Mississippi College (70) and Sul Ross State (54) rounded out the field.

Notes: Concordia has shown significant improvement at the American Southwest Conference Championships each year since its inaugural season of varsity competition in 2010 … The Tornados finished sixth in 2010 with 41 points and fifth in 2011 and 2012 by accumulating 54 and 58 points, respectively, before placing second with 131 points today … A record seven student-athletes – Matthew Denman, Justin Gonzalez, Monté  Griffin, JJ Jenkins, Michael Normand, Matt Ruhe and James Washington – were named All-ASC and four school records were set in individual events.
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Team Standings:
1. Texas-Tyler 240; 2. Concordia 131; 3. Hardin-Simmons 113; 4. Mississippi College 70; 6. Sul Ross State 54.

Concordia Results:
100-Meter Dash: 2. Matt Ruhe 11.13; 5. Corey Graves 11.34; 12. Justin Gonzalez 11.78; 13. James Washington 11.79; 14. Colton Benedict 11.84. 200-Meter Dash: 2. Matt Ruhe 22.17; 5. JJ Jenkins 22.68; 11. Corey Graves 23.22; 12. James Washington 23.30; 15. Justin Gonzalez 23.60; 19. Colton Benedict 24.37. 400-Meter Dash: 2. James Washington 49.58 (School Record); 5. JJ Jenkins 50.46; 7. Monté Griffin 51.96; 9. Michael Normand 53.23; 11. Aaron Hinojosa 54.93. 800-Meter Run: 6. Alix Chavez 2:05.05. 1,500-Meter Run: 3. Michael Normand 4:11.52 (School Record); 6. Alix Chavez 4:20.85. 5,000-Meter Run: 6. Riley Zoch 17:36.93. 4x100-Meter Relay: 5. Corey Graves, James Washington, JJ Jenkins, Matt Ruhe 43.86. 4x400-Meter Relay: 1. JJ Jenkins, Monté Griffin, Michael Normand, James Washington 3:22.43. Long Jump: 3. Justin Gonzalez 19-8.25; 4. Matthew Denman 19-3.50; 5. Corey Graves 19-3.25; 7. Aaron Hinojosa 17-9; 9. Xzavier Beachum 16-10.50; 11. Colton Benedict 15-7. Discus Throw: 6. Robert Solis 124-6; 10. Michael Pena 107-9. Shot Put: 2. Lucas Driscoll 43-10; 5. Michael Pena 42-5.25.

ASC Track & Field Awards:
Men's Coach of the Year: Bob Helper, Texas-Tyler
Outstanding Male Track Athlete of the Year: Nick Huff, Texas-Tyler
Outstanding Male Field Athlete of the Year: Justin Gray, Hardin-Simmons
Outstanding Freshman Co-Athlete of the Year: Justin Gonzalez, Concordia & Richard Snyder, Sul Ross State
High Point Scorer: Buck Thompson, Texas-Tyler
Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Lee Caruthers, Sul Ross State

All-Conference Awards (event winners and athletes with 14 or more points):
Conner Benson, Texas-Tyler
Shane Brogdon, Mississippi College
Travis Crafton, Texas-Tyler
Matthew Denman, Concordia
Derek Footer, Hardin-Simmons
Justin Gonzalez, Concordia
Monté Griffin, Concordia
Justin Gray, Hardin-Simmons
Nicklas Huff, Texas-Tyler
JJ Jenkins, Concordia
Edward Johnson, Mississippi College
Christian Kearney, Texas-Tyler
Matthew Markert, Texas-Tyler
Cedric Miller, Hardin-Simmons
Ford Noack, Texas-Tyler
Michael Normand, Concordia
Ed Palencia, Texas-Tyler
Matt Ruhe, Concordia
Jared Shannon, Mississippi College
Richard Snyder, Sul Ross State
Demarcus Speight, Mississippi College
Buck Thompson, Texas-Tyler
James Washington, Concordia
Alexander Wilson, Texas-Tyler