Runarsdottir becomes first track athlete in 29 years to win championship

Elisabet Runarsdottir made history becoming the first Bobcat track athlete to win a national championship since Inez Turner back in 1995.

Competing in the Hammer Throw, Runarsdottir won the event on her third throw, throwing 231 feet, 2 inches. The throw set a new personal record for Runarsdottir and beat her own national record for the sophomore from Iceland.

Runarsdottir is just the second Bobcat woman athlete to win a national title behind Turner and the first athlete to win a championship in the Hammer Throw.

Also competing in the Hammer Throw was freshman Lara Roberts. Roberts finished in 14th place with a throw of 206 feet, 11 inches.

Roberts also ends the year with the best throw for a freshman in the country, which was set in the NCAA West Prelims.

Making their debut on the national stage, the Texas State 400-meter relay team of Kaylee Lewis, Ma’Khi Falkquay, Kerris Roberts and Taejha Badal became the first ever Bobcat relay team to run at the NCAA National Outdoor Championships.

The team finished in 19th place but ran the second fastest time in school history at 44.03 seconds. The team set the school record last week at the NCAA West Prelims.

The men’s 400-relay team of Shedrack Akpeki, Daniel Harrold, Shawn Collins and Dominick Yancy competed at nationals.

The team finished in 15th place with a time of 39.48 second. This marks the highest placing a Texas State men’s relay team has finished at nationals and the fourth fastest time in school history.

The end of the NCAA National Outdoor Meet marks a high point in Texas State track and field, which sent a record number of competitors to compete at nationals with 10.

The women’s team also won the program’s first conference outdoor championship since 2017.

cmcwilliams@sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc