BEAUMONT, Texas - The final dress rehearsal is over, and the Lamar men's and women's track teams made the final push before the conference championships at the Howie Ryan Invitational in Houston and the UW Invitational in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday.

"As a whole, we had some really good things happen over the weekend," said track and field head coach Trey Clark. "Now we just have some injuries to heal and give the kids a break before we go to the Southland Conference Championships."

In Houston, Dominique Taylor staked her claim to the school record of the 60-meter hurdles on an 8.67 time, and finished sixth on the day. She moved into fifth place of the Southland Conference lists.

"I thought Dominique had a good day and that led her to breaking the school record," said Clark. She has worked and good things happen when you do that."

Taylor owns four of the top five times on Lamar's all-time 60-meter hurdle event.

In Washington, Sam Stabler led the way after a second place finish in the 3000-meter run and a 7:53.98 time that moved him into first place in the Southland Conference and second nationally. It was the first 3000m event of his indoor season and set a new career personal record.

TaMar Hicks finished ninth at the Howie Ryan Invitational in the 800-meter event with a 1:58.27 time, just short of his personal record of 1:58.14. Jan Lukas Becker took ninth place in the mile run on a 4:29.20 mark.

Louise Webb claimed eighth place in the 3000-meter run with a 10:11.44 time in her first event of the year. Sarah Shim answered her good day on Friday with a new career best in the 400m after a 59.07 mark in the 400m.

"We had several breakthroughs that we needed," said Clark. "I feel good about where we are before the conference meet."

At the UW Invitational, Aaron Bennett set a new personal record in the 800m run on an 11th place finish and 1:52.08 time. Alex Dunbar also set a new personal best in the 3000m on an 8:20.47 finish, he set a new career best on Friday in the 5000-meter event.

Reigning Southland Conference Female Track Athlete of the Week Verity Ockenden finished ninth in the mile run on a 4:46.74. Jannika John and Leigh Lattimore, who set a new personal best, finished the 3000m run ninth and 12th, respectively. John had a 9:23.20 mark followed by 9:28.54 time.

Stuart Ferguson had a new career record in the mile with a 4:10.00 mark, and finished 18th in the event.

"The UW Invitational did not disappoint," said assistant track coach Darren Gauson on Twitter. "We set new personal bests and Sam moved to second nationally in the 3K."

Next up is the league meet that is will be held at the the Birmingham CrossPlex Arena in Birmingham, Ala., and will start on Feb. 16.