HOUSTON – Jeny Barcenas was the big winner for the McNeese Cowgirls on the first day of the Rice Victor Lopez Classic as the distance runner easily won the women's 3000-meter steeplechase with the 12^th-fastest time in the NCAA this season.
 
The reigning Southland Conference champion in the event clocked a time of 10:43.11 to win the race by six seconds while repeating as the champion in the Rice meet. It was her third career win in the event in her two-year career as a Cowgirl.
 
On the men's side, Tyler Challis placed third in the men's hammer throw with a personal record throw of 187-03, bettering his previous best record by one inch while recording the fourth-longest throw in school history.
 
Two other personal records and three season-bests were tallied on the day.
 
Jasmine Perez placed fifth in the women's 1500m with a PR time of 4:38.69. In the same race, Uxue Castro-Martin clocked a season-best time of 4:52.85. And in the women's hammer event, Leah Guy threw 143-05 and Macie Campbell 110-03, both season bests.
 
The meet will conclude on Saturday.
 
McNeese Results:
Men 1500m – 7, Sullivan Hanna 3:58.85 PR.
Women 1500m – 5, Jasmine Perez 4:38.69 PR; 11, Irene Barreiro-Lopez 4:46.34; 17, Uxue Castro-Martin 4:52.85 SB.
Men 3000m SC – 12, Owen Kirkland 9:56.78; 14, Kevin Kimaiyo 10:01.16.
Women 3000m SC – 1, Jeny Barcenas 10:43.11; 4, Grace Sullivan 11:11.64; 6, Danielle Salinas 11:57.45.
Men 5000m – 5, Ryan McCarthy 15:08.42.
Women 5000m – 22, Grace French 19:26.76.
Men Hammer – 3, Tyler Challis 187-03 PR; 7, Marcus Francis 169-02.
Women Hammer – 6, Jaslyn Russell 152-11; 10, Leah Guy 143-05 SB; 15, Macie Campbell 110-03 SB.