Feb. 10, 2007
The University of Texas-Pan American men's and women's track and field programs posted 23 personal records on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 10) at the UH/RunSport All-Comers Meet in Houston, TX.
"Overall, this was an exceptional meet," said head men's and women's track and field coach Ricky Vaughn. "This was our third indoor meet of the season, and it seemed that we started to get things rolling."
The Lady Bronc jumpers posted an exceptional day as Liliana Cavazos (Weslaco, TX/Weslaco East H.S.) and Claudia Lopez (San Juan, TX/PSJA Memorial H.S.) both posted personal records in the triple jump and landed a spot in the all-time records books.
Cavazos captured first place in the triple jump with a leap of 39-3.25, which was the third best jump in program history. Lopez tied for second overall in the event with a personal-best jump of 37-11, which was the fifth best leap in program history.
In the distance events, Carolina Izaguirre (Brownsville, TX/Hanna H.S.) collected her first indoor track and field title in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:45.64, which was a personal-best time for the UTPA newcomer.
Rose Escovedo (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) notched a fourth-place finish in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:04.58, which was a personal best time, while Sara Rodriguez (Pharr, TX/Valley View H.S.) finished sixth overall with a personal-best mark of 11:09.39 in that event.
UTPA sophomore Vanessa Brown (Houston, TX/Elsik H.S.) also posted a tremendous day in the sprinting events as she collected a second overall finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.34 while earning a spot in the all-time record books with a time of 58.96 in the 400-meter dash en route to collecting a third-place finish.
Ashlon Martin (Dallas, TX/H. Grady Spruce H.S.) finished fifth overall in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.86, which was not only a personal record for the UTPA sophomore, but was also the fifth-fastest time in program history. Martin also collected a personal record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.81 en route to finishing seventh overall.
Amanda Ferris (San Antonio, TX/Dillard McCollum H.S.) finished third overall in the weight throw with a distance of 55-3 en route to securing a personal-best for the UTPA junior.
The team of Sonya Rivera (Brownsville, TX/Hanna H.S.), Shardae Bey (Houston, TX/Elsik H.S.), Lizet Garcia (McAllen, TX/McAllen H.S.) and Izaguirre posted a third overall finish with a time of 12:51.35 in the distance medley relay.
"The women sprinters did an incredible job, and you could see that they were starting to put things together. They all set personal records and two of them earned a spot in the records books so I was very pleased with their efforts. Liliana and Claudia both finished in the all-time record books in the triple jump, and they both really stepped up and performed well," said Vaughn.
On the men's side of the track and field, UTPA newcomer Omar Doria (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) captured his first individual title with a mark of 4:24.87 in the one-mile race. Gilroy Martinez finished third overall in that event with a time of 4:26.55, which was a personal best for the UTPA freshman.
UTPA senior Will Littleton (Cuero, TX/Angelo State University) finished second overall in the high jump after clearing a height of 6-9 while Sal Gonzalez (Los Fresnos, TX/Los Fresnos H.S.) earned a third-place finish in the pole vault with a height of 15-1.
Scott Miller (Los Fresnos, TX/Los Fresnos H.S.) finished sixth overall with a mark of 47-3.5 in the weight throw, which was a personal record for the UTPA freshman.
In the 3,000-meter race, Luis Nava (La Joya, TX/La Joya H.S.) finished third overall with a time of 9:02.38, which was a personal record, while Angel Ramirez (Mission, TX/Waelder ISD) finished with a time of 9:27.10 en route to securing ninth-place laurels.
UTPA freshman Wally Gonzalez (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) finished third overall in the 800-meter race with a time of 1:58.08, which was both a personal record and the fourth-best time in program history.
The team of Doria, Gonzalez, Nava and Ruben Cantu (Falfurrias, TX/Falfurrias H.S.) finished second overall with a time of 10:22.30 in the distance medley relay.
"The distance runners had another great meet. We had a couple of first-place finishers, and a lot of athletes that posted personal records. Omar and Luis really had very good performances, and I thought that Scott and Sal finally put some things together and get personal records," added Vaughn.
The UTPA men's and women's track and field programs concluded the 2007 indoor season and will open up outdoor action at the Border Olympics.
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