SAN ANTONIO – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros track & field program opens the outdoor season at the UTSA Invitational this weekend, with the meet counting toward the South Texas Showdown presented by Rally Credit Union pitting the Vaqueros against rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC). 
 
The meet begins with select events Friday and will be held at the Park West Athletics Complex. Hammer throw, shot put and javelin will compete starting at 2 p.m. Friday, followed by the steeplechase and 5K races on a rolling schedule starting at 8 p.m. All other events will compete Saturday, beginning with field events at 11 a.m. with running events occurring on a rolling schedule starting at 2 p.m. 
 
Competing teams include the hosting Roadrunners, the TAMUCC Islanders, Kansas State, Texas State, Incarnate Word and Our Lady of the Lake. 
 
"We're expecting pretty solid competition," track & field/cross country head coach Shareese Hicks said. "It's the first meet so we're dusting off the cobwebs. We are going to be training through this meet because the weather is not going to be what we would like coming from the Valley, but we still expect some good marks and times in general." 
 
The meet will not be scored, so the South Texas Showdown will use a 5-3-2-1 scoring format to determine the winning men's and women's teams. The top two finishers from each team in each event will be awarded points based on the order of finish of the four student-athletes. The Vaqueros have a chance to give UTRGV, which currently trails the showdown 28-26, an important advantage late in the competition. 
 
UTRGV is coming into this meet energized by a great turnout at the free youth track & field clinic held Wednesday in Brownsville. The top performers from the indoor season are eager to keep their momentum rolling, and several Vaqueros are ready to compete for the first time this year. Though weather conditions don't look favorable, the student-athletes will bring their A game to San Antonio, determined to get the next phase of the season started on a strong note. 
 
"We're feeling very good, very confident and strong. And most importantly, feeling very together," Hicks said. "That's always what we're constantly repeating – to support each other, bring energy, and that's going to really make for a good experience and good start for this 2023 season." 
 
MEET SCHEDULE 
Friday 
Women's hammer throw, 2 p.m. 
Marlene Gutierrez 
Hannah Hilding 
 
Women's shot put (follows men's, 2 p.m.) 
Marlene Gutierrez 
Hannah Hilding 
Ana Rodriguez 
 
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, 8 p.m. 
Ricardo Garcia 
Abraham Morales 
 
Saturday (running events on rolling schedule) 
Women's high jump, 11 a.m. 
Penny Alanis 
 
Men's high jump, follows women's 
Jedidiah Udunna 
 
Women's long jump, 11 a.m. 
Kailah Gilmore 
Ashley Lingueno 
Tolu Odetola 
Rayja'nae Pettit 
 
Women's triple jump, following LJ 
Tolu Odetola 
 
Men's long jump, 11 a.m. 
Aaron Cooper 
Jedidiah Udunna 
 
Men's triple jump, following LJ 
Aaron Cooper 
Marco Guajardo 
 
Women's discus, 11 a.m. 
Marlene Gutierrez 
Hannah Hilding 
Ana Rodriguez 
 
Women's 4x100-meter relay, 2 p.m. 
Symoria Adkins, Yaria Akers, Nayla Harris, Jada Hoffman, Daniella Muniz 
 
Men's 4x100-meter relay 
Jaqualand Fields, Yashawn Hamilton, Jalen Nero, Jaleel Scott, Jermarrion Stewart 
 
Women's 100-meter hurdles 
Symoria Adkins 
Ashley Lingueno 
Uxia Pereira 
 
Women's 400-meter dash
Lani Brewer
Aliyah Castillo 
Aisha Gay 
Emily Martinez 
 
Men's 400-meter dash 
Alejandro Arellano 
Jaqualand Fields 
Jamari Harts 
Derrius Henry 
Sam Johnson II 
 
Women's 100-meter dash 
Yaria Akers 
Nayla Harris 
Jada Hoffman 
Denae McElrath 
Daniella Muniz 
 
Men's 100-meter dash 
Yashawn Hamilton 
Jalen Nero 
Jaleel Scott 
Jermarrion Stewart 
 
Women's 800-meter run 
Selissa Gonzales 
Ashley Lingueno 
Estrella Medellin 
 
Men's 800-meter run 
Jorge Salazar 
 
Women's 400-meter hurdles 
Kalissa Cavazos 
Uxia Pereira 
 
Men's 400-meter hurdles 
Jaylen Critton 
Alex Galvan 
 
Women's 200-mter dash 
Symoria Adkins 
Yaria Akers 
Lani Brewer 
Aliyah Castillo 
Aisha Gay 
Nayla Harris 
Jada Hoffman 
Ashley Lingueno 
Emily Martinez 
Denae McElrath 
Daniella Muniz 
 
Men's 200-meter dash 
Jaqualand Fields 
Yashawn Hamilton 
Sam Johnson II 
Jalen Nero 
Jaleel Scott 
Jermarrion Stewart 
 
Women's 1,500-meter run 
Faith Cruz 
Janie Delgado 
Andrea Gallardo 
Ana Hernandez 
 
Men's 1,500-meter run 
Alex Canales 
Alex Munoz 
Tristan Pena 
Sebastian Salinas 
 
Women's 4x400-meter relay 
Lani Brewer, Aliyah Castillo, Aisha Gay, Uxia Pereira 
 
Men's 4x400-meter relay 
Jaqualand Fields, Jamari Harts, Derrius Henry, Sam Johnson II, Jermarrion Stewart 

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