Texas Border Business
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s and men’s outdoor track & field teams completed a sweep in the South Texas Showdown presented by Rally Credit Union Saturday during the UTSA Invitational at Park West Athletics Complex.
The showdown used a 5-3-2-1 scoring format. UTRGV’s women’s team defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) 82-42 while the men’s team defeated the Islanders 66-47. With the six points earned by track & field, UTRGV now holds a 32-28 lead over TAMUCC in the South Texas Showdown standings as it aims to end a three-year losing skid in the rivalry.
The Vaqueros women’s sprinters had a strong day on the track to lead the winning effort. Graduate student Jada Hoffman and junior Aisha Gay rode the momentum created in sprints during the indoor season into the first outdoor meet. Hoffman earned second place in the women’s 100-meter dash (12.33) and was fifth in the 200-meter dash (25.35. Gay placed third in both the women’s 400-meter dash (57.21) and the 200-meter dash (25.11).
UTRGV’s women’s hurdlers also had a big day as junior Uxia Pereira (14.43) and freshman Symoria Adkins (14.51) finished first and second, respectively, in the 100-meter hurdles. Pereira (1:06.96) was fifth in the 400-meter hurdles and freshman Weslaco High alum Kalissa Cavazos finished eighth in the event in her first collegiate race. In the men’s 400-meter hurdles, freshman Jaylen Critton and junior Mission Veterans alum Alex Galvan were fifth and eighth, respectively.
The relays turned in solid performances. UTRGV’s men’s 4×100-meter relay team of Jaleel Scott, Yashawn Hamilton, Jalen Nero and Jermarrion Stewart was third, running 42.10 to claim the new 10th-best time in program history. The 4×400-meter relay team of Jaqualand Fields, Sam Johnson II, Derrius Henry and Jamari Harts took second in 3:21.99. The women’s 4×100-meter relay comprised of Nayla Harris, Adkins, Yaria Akers and Hoffman finished second with the program’s third-best performance in history with a time of 47.37.
Jedidiah Udunna and Rayja’nae Pettit continued their impressive freshmen campaigns with good first outdoor jumps after strong indoor seasons. Udunna took fifth in the men’s long jump with a mark of 6.83 meters and Pettit was sixth in the women’s long jump (5.42 meters).
All four UTRGV throwers finished in the top 10 of the women’s discus, with freshman Hannah Hilding leading the way with a 45.62-meter toss to take fifth in the event.
Senior Edinburg North alum Tristan Pena led the way for the men’s 1,500-meter runners with a third-place finish in a personal-best time of 3:59.34. Junior Sharyland High alum Ana Hernandez was fifth to lead the women’s 1,500-meter runners.
UTRGV’s next meet will be March 24-25 at the Victor Lopez Classic in Houston.
UTRGV Results
Women’s long jump
6. Rayja’nae Pettit, 5.42m (5 points)
11. Ashley Lingueno, 5.22m (3 points)
Men’s long jump
5. Jedidiah Udunna, 6.83m (3 points)
10. Aaron Cooper, 6.45m (1 point)
Men’s triple jump
7. Aaron Cooper, 13.95m (5 points)
8. Marco Guajardo, 13.76m (3 points)
Women’s discus
5. Hannah Hilding, 45.62m (5 points)
8. Zoe Vlk, 38.98m (3 points)
9. Ana Rodriguez, 37.70m
10. Marlene Gutierrez, 32.29m
Women’s 4×100-meter relay
2. Nayla Harris, Symoria Adkins, Yaria Akers, Jada Hoffman, 47.37 (5 points)
• 3rd fastest in program history
Men’s 4×100-meter relay
3. Jaleel Scott, Yashawn Hamilton, Jalen Nero, Jermarrion Stewart, 42.10 (5 points)
• 10th fastest in program history
Women’s 100-meter hurdles
1. Uxia Pereira, 14.43 (5 points)
2. Symoria Adkins, 14.51 (3 points)
15. Ashley Lingueno, 18.60
Women’s 400-meter dash
3. Aisha Gay, 57.21 (3 points)
10. Aliyah Castillo, 1:00.19 (1 point)
17. Ja’Nyla Tucker, 1:03.22
18. Emily Martinez, 1:03.71
Men’s 400-meter dash
7. Jaqualand Fields, 49.69 (5 points)
9. Sam Johnson II, 49.98 (3 points)
13. Derrius Henry, 50.70
15. Jamari Harts, 51.08
18. Alejandro Arellano, 51.19
Women’s 100-meter dash
2. Jada Hoffman, 12.33 (5 points)
10. Daniella Muniz, 12.83 (1 point)
11. Nayla Harris, 12.88
13. Yaria Akers, 12.92
16. Denae McElrath, 13.20
Men’s 100-meter dash
13. Yashawn Hamilton, 11.29 (3 points)
16. Jalen Nero, 11.39
11. Jaleel Scott, 11.19 (5 points)
24. Jermarrion Stewart, 11.52
Women’s 800-meter run
7. Estrella Medellin, 2:24.31 (2 points)
12. Selissa Gonzales, 2:29.05 (1 point)
14. Ashley Lingueno, 2:49.56
Men’s 800-meter run
20. Jorge Salazar, 2:04.77 (2 points)
Women’s 400-meter hurdles
5. Uxia Pereira, 1:06.96
8. Kalissa Cavazos, 1:10.62
Men’s 400-meter hurdles
5. Jaylen Critton, 57.72 (3 points)
8. Alex Galvan, 58.27 (2 points)
Women’s 200-meter dash
3. Aisha Gay, 25.11 (5 points)
5. Jada Hoffman, 25.35 (3 points)
8. Daniella Muniz, 25.89
17. Denae McElrath, 26.79
18. Aliyah Castillo, 26.96
20. Ja’Nyla Tucker, 27.21
23. Lani Brewer, 27.50
25. Emily Martinez, 27.86
28. Nayla Harris, 29.04
Men’s 200-meter dash
14. Sam Johnson II, 22.61 (3 points)
15. Yashawn Hamilton, 22.73 (2 points)
20. Jaleel Scott, 23.09
26. Jalen Nero, 23.57
30. Jaqualand Fields, 24.27
Women’s 1,500-meter run
5. Ana Hernandez, 4:58.17 (5 points)
8. Faith Cruz, 5:00.41 (3 points)
10. Janie Delgado, 5:06.59
16. Andrea Gallardo, 5:20.89
Men’s 1,500-meter run
3. Tristan Pena, 3:59.34 (5 points)
8. Sebastian Salinas, 4:03.17 (3 points)
16. Alex Canales, 4:06.33
20. Alex Munoz, 4:08.82
Men’s 4×400-meter relay
2. Jaqualand Fields, Sam Johnson II, Derrius Henry, Jamari Harts, 3:21.99 (5 points)
