April 6, 2006

Austin, Texas - University of Houston sophomore Jarrett Flax registered a ninth-place finish with a career-best point total of 6,813 points in the men's decathlon during the first two days of the 79th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

It was the first decathlon in which Flax has competed after he won the Conference USA men's indoor heptathlon last February 24-25. Senior Nicholas Garza also recorded a 16th-place finish in the decathlon after he accumulated 6,345 points.

Trey Hardee of Texas was the men's decathlon champion with 8,465 points, edging his teammate, Donavan Kilmartin, who had 7,897 points.

In the women's heptathlon, Houston's Rachel Easley scored a career-high 4,776 points to finish in 18th place. Julie Pickler of Washington State was the champion with 5,734 points, while Ryanne Dupree scored 5,606 points to finish in second place. Dupree was competing unattached.

Houston also had seventh-place finishes in both the men and women's 4x800-meter relay races. The men's team of Chris White, Andy Morris, Calum Neff and Sesar Figueroa combined for a time of 7:30.64. Oral Roberts won the race with a time of 7:17.02, while USC was the runner-up team with a time of 7:18.58.

The women's tandem of Jennifer Hunt, Adriane Guinn, Kelcee Keenan and Jennifer Harper had a time of 9:10.42. Texas won the women's race with a time of 8:45.68, while Mississippi State finished in second place with a time of 8:47.84.

Senior Tiffany Abney posted a time of 1:02.24 in the preliminary rounds of the women's 400-meter hurdles. It was her first hurdles race of the outdoor season for Abney.

Sam Fobbs had time of 53.43 seconds in the preliminary rounds of the Men's 400-meter hurdles, while freshman Kendal Daughtry had a preliminary time of 55.79 seconds.