EUGENE, OREGON – The freshman duo of DeVontae Steele and Jamal Curtis represented A&M-Commerce T&F well this weekend, combining for three top-ten finishes at the USATF Junior Championships on the campus of the Oregon Ducks.

Jamal Curtis kicked things off on Friday in the high jump. Curtis cleared 2.09m in three attempts, just two centimeters short of his personal best. Unable to match the A&M-Commerce school record of 2.14m on the following height, Curtis logged a ninth place finish.

Following Curtis, DeVontae Steele got his crack at the long jump. Like his teammate, Steele finished ninth, jumping for seven meters even on his second attempt. A&M-Commerce saved the best for last, as Steele would get his chance at the triple jump the following day, his signature event. The freshman's third attempt yielded a distance of 14.76m, propelling him into the top-eight and into the finals. There, he'd hit 14.99m on his fifth attempt, ultimately claiming sixth place.

"DeVontae and Jamal had an excellent meet and demonstrated great poise in one of the most challenging competitions of the year," said assistant coach Ross Smithey, who accompanied the athletes on the trek to Oregon.

The USATF Junior Championships exist to test the very best 19-and-under talent in the country at an annual national meet. With the event's conclusion, the Lions' historic track and field season finally comes to an end. The summer months will be geared towards recruitment, offseason training. Of most-immediate concern, the distance athletes will soon begin to prepare in earnest for the cross country season, which begins in the fall.

"The future is strong for Lion track and field and this was a great way to end the season," said Smithey.

DeVontae Steele, sporting a medal for
finisting sixth overall in the triple jump.