Final Results

HUMBLE, Texas -- Brice Christian earned Male Newcomer of the Year honors and Houston Baptist University athletes collected six golds Saturday at Turner Stadium on the final day of the Great West Conference Track & Field Championships.

Christian, a freshman from Cy Falls, won the 400 with a school-record 48.20 clocking and led the 4x400 to gold in 3:15.90 with a stellar opening leg, teaming up with David Hicks, LaDarien Harris and Darryl McCullum. He also won the long jump Friday and picked up a bronze in the 4x100 today.

"Brice really set the tone for us this weekend, " said head coach Theresa Fuqua. "He ran so well to come from behind and win the 400, and his long jump victory yesterday got the ball rolling for us."

The Huskies finished second in the men's team standings behind four-time champs Utah Valley, while the HBU women were third behind UVU and North Dakota.

After threatening weather halted competition Friday night before the completion of the men's 400 hurdles heats, the men's and women's 200 heats, and the men's and women's 3000 steeplechase finals, Matt Perri had to open a long day on the track with the steeplechase at 9 am today, where he ran away with the gold in 9:23.42, seven seconds ahead of the next finisher.

Perri came back just after noon to take fourth in the 1500 at 3:54.78, and three hours later he grabbed silver in the 5000 at 15:20.52.

"Not many people could run so well in such difficult circumstances," Fuqua said. "Matt showed a lot of heart and strength and talent to be able to run three grueling finals in the span of six hours."

Brittane Gaines shattered the GWC meet record and HBU school record in the prelims of the 100 on Friday with an 11.62, and she matched that Saturday to pick up gold. She also teamed up with Joslyn Cooper, Tramisha McGrew and Skyla Williams to win the 4x100 in 46.56, and she set a lifetime best in the 200 at 24.25 to claim silver.

McGrew, who took bronze in the 400 at 56.37, ran a blazing third leg to give the Huskies a lead in the 4x400 before Morgan Pressley fought off the Utah Valley anchor leg to grab gold in a season-best 3:46.58. Sharonda Bryant and Zelda Abadom were the first two legs on that relay.

Pressley won the long jump Friday, spanning 5.72/18-9.25, and added a fourth in the 400 (56.44) and a fifth in the triple jump today.

"It is always a thrill to win a relay, and to win both today is super," Fuqua said. "I can't even begin to describe how well Tramisha McGrew has competed for us in her four years, and it is so special to see these women come together in the final events."

The other gold medal yesterday was won by freshman Michael Roberts in the high jump, where he cleared 2.00/6-6.75 to tie the school record set last year by Jonathan Staples. Roberts was third in the long jump and third in the triple jump.

School records went to Emily Shulik in the women's steeplechase, as she shattered the old record with an 11:30.18 to take fourth, and to Gabe O'Neale in the men's 400 hurdles, where he clocked 55.51 to trim .17 off his own record and finish third. Earlier in the day O'Neale placed second in the 110 hurdles. Freshman Carolyn McClanahan was also well under the previous school record in the steeple as she placed fifth at 11:34.14.

Jake Adkins garnered bronze in the shot put Friday, and Jarrett Gilliam was fourth in the discus.

Kourtney Lofton rode a barely-illegal wind to a lifetime best in the 100 hurdles at 14.46 to earn silver, and Candace Montgomery took bronze in the 400 hurdles with a 62.87. Lofton was sixth in the triple jump.

Top-six finishes were also turned in by Jessica Whitt, who was fourth in the 800, and Williams was fifth in the 200 ahead of Cooper after the duo went 4-5 in the 100 final.

Brandon Boyd was fourth in the 200 after a fifth in the 100, while Hicks nabbed fourth in the 400 and Harris sixth. Anthony Aguinaga clocked 3:55.51 for fifth in the 1500.

"Hosting a conference championship meet is a huge undertaking, and we got a tremendous amount of support from our local and regional officials," Fuqua added. "The stadium at Humble got rave reviews and we appreciate the efforts of Humble ISD to help make this event successful."

Next up for the Huskies is the NCAA West Regional at Austin on May 24-26, where Brittane Gaines is likely to compete in the 100. The top 48 ranked athletes in each individual event, and the top 24 4x100 and 4x400 relays will be invited to the first-round competition, which serves as a qualifier for the NCAA Championships at Des Moines, Iowa, June 6-9.

HUSKIES AT THE 2012 GWC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Medals:

Gold (9) - Brice Christian 400 & LJ; Matt Perri 3000SC, Michael Roberts HJ, Brittane Gaines 100, Morgan Pressley LJ, men's 4x400, women's 4x100 & 4x400

Silver (4) - Matt Perri 5000, Gabe O'Neale 110H, Brittane Gaines 200, Kourtney Lofton 100H

Bronze (6) - Jake Adkins SP, Michael Roberts TJ & LJ, men's 4x100, Tramisha McGrew 400, Candace Montgomery 400H

School records (7) - Brice Christian 400, Gabe O'Neale 400H, Michael Roberts HJ, Jarrett Gilliam HT, Brittane Gaines 100, Emily Shulik 3000SC, Cassie Juarez JT