Since the indoor season started in early December, nine Longhorn track and field athletes have climbed into the top 10 of the Texas all-time performers list.
200 & 400 meters:
Junior sprinter Logan Popelka climbed the all-time performers list in both the 200 and 400-meter races with times of 20.77 and 45.97 seconds respectively. Popelka’s 400-meter time at the MLK Jr. Invitational not only propelled him to No. 4 all-time at Texas, but also was a meet record. The junior sprinter is now No. 4 in both the 200 and 400-meter events.
After making his debut for Texas in early December, sophomore sprinter Xavier Butler also broke the top 10 in the 200-meter with a time of 20.86 seconds. Butler’s time places him eighth all-time on the list and is a personal best performance for the UTEP transfer.
Pole Vault:
Two Longhorns advanced through the the rankings of the Texas all-time performers list in pole vault since the winter season began: senior Sam Hurley and sophomore Sophia Kowalski.
Hurley, a Texas track and field veteran, moved to No. 2 on the men’s all-time pole vault performance list after an impressive outing at the MLK Jr. Invitational. Hurley set a personal best clearance of 5.52 meters to earn this new standing. Former Longhorn Jacob Davis holds on to the top spot after a clearance of 5.85 meters in 1999.
On the women’s side, Kowalski recently moved to No. 6 all-time in pole vault after clearing 4.17 meters. Kowalski currently sits in the top 10 for the outdoor all-time performer’s list for pole vault as well, jumping to No. 8 last April in the Texas Invitational.
“I do have goals on getting in the top three very soon, but top six, it feels like I’m making history a little bit for Texas,” Kowalski said. “I definitely have expectations for a lot higher by the end of the season.”
3,000 Meters:
Senior Eva Jess and junior Elizabeth Pickett earned their spots in the top 10 in the 3,000-meter distance races. Jess earned the 10th spot on the 3,000 meter all-time performer list earlier this season but jumped to fifth all-time after posting the fifth-fastest 3K in Texas history at the Razorback Invitational on Feb. 1, finishing in 9:10.72.
Pickett also earned her spot on the list at the Arkansas Invitational, running a time of 9:20.97 to place her at ninth all-time.
Long Jump, Weight Throw and Pentathlon:
Rounding out this season’s athletes that have moved up on the Texas all-time performer list are freshmen Brandon Schirck and Meagan Humphries and sophomore Kelsey Daniel. After making his collegiate debut at the Arkansas Invitational, Schirk moved to 10th all-time for Texas in the 35-pound weight throw at the MLK Jr. Invitational.
Humphries improved to fourth all-time on the Texas pentathlon list, boasting a score of 3,887 points at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Humphries is one of the most recent Longhorns to climb one of Texas’ all-time performers list, claiming her spot last Friday.
With another impressive performance from the Longhorns at the Arkansas Invitational, Daniel moved to No. 2 all-time for Texas in the long jump. Daniel’s winning jump earned him his first of two wins so far this indoor season.
