CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Texas A&M University-Commerce track and field teams claimed eight more All-American honors on Saturday to close out the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Lion men finished in sixth place in the team race with 37 points, while the Lion women placed 29^th with 11 points.
 
Two Lion men were national runners-up in their event by extremely narrow margins. The Lion men also picked up a third place and a fourth place during the day.  The Lion women earned a fifth place finish, two sixth place finishes, and an eighth place mark.
 
In the men's triple jump, DeVontae Steele was the national runner-up at 15.97 meters (52-4 ¾), establishing a school outdoor record. This is Steele's sixth career All-American honor.
 
Rashard Clark was the national runner-up in the 200 meter dash with a time of 45.70 seconds.
 
The men's 4x400 meter relay team of Gabriel Peterson, Josiah Dennis, Aaron Lecesne, and Rashard Clark placed third with a time of 3:07.84 in an extremely tight race.
 
Hudson Hall placed fourth in the men's pole vault, clearing a height of 5.08 meters (16-8) in his first appearance at the outdoor national meet.
 
The women's 4x400 meter relay team of Minna Sveard, Ro'Nisha Simpson, Joy Spann, and Kamryn McKee placed fifth with a school record time of 3:40.75.
 
Anitial'a Robins claimed her first career All-American honor in the women's discus throw with a long toss of 49.36 meters (161-11).
 
McKee bettered her own school record in the women's 400 meter dash, placing sixth with a time of 54.06 seconds.
 
Svaerd was in the lead near the halfway point of the women's 400 meter hurdles, but took a minor tumble before finishing strong in a time of 1:02.54 for eighth place.
 
MEN'S TEAM TOP TEN

1	Texas A&M-Kingsville	65
2	Ashland (Ohio)	51
3	Tiffin (Ohio)	50
4	St. Augustine's (N.C.)	42
5	Grand Valley State	39
6	A&M-COMMERCE	37
7	Academy of Art (Calif.)	34
8	Pittsburg State (Kan.)	31.5
9.	Angelo State	26
10	Colorado School of Mines	23
	Chico State (Calif.)	23

 
LIONS EARNING POINTS AT THE 2018 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
MEN

CHAMPION	Florian Obst	Decathlon	8,005  pts *
Runner-Up	DeVontae Steele	Triple Jump	15.97m (52-4 ¾) *
Runner-Up	Rashard Clark	400 Meter Dash	:45.70
Third Place	Peterson, Dennis, Lecesne, Clark	4x400 Meter Relay	3:07.84
Fourth Place	Hudson Hall	Pole Vault	5.08m (16-8)

 
WOMEN

Fifth Place	Svaerd, Simpson, Spann, McKee	4x400 Meter Relay	3:40.75 *
Sixth Place	Kamryn McKee	400 Meter Dash	54.06 *
Sixth Place	Anitial'a Robins	Discus Throw	49.36m (161-11)
Eighth Place	Minna Svaerd	400 Meter Hurdles	1:02.54