SAN MARCOS – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) track & field graduate student Marlene Gutierrez set a new outdoor program record in the women's hammer throw to headline a strong final day at the Bobcat Invitational for the Vaqueros. 
 
Gutierrez notched one of seven personal records and one of six entries into the record books for UTRGV as she launched a massive throw of 61.80 meters to finish eighth in the event at the Texas State Track & Field Complex. 
 
UTRGV's women's 4x100-meter relay got the running events started on a strong note, earning a sixth-place finish in 47.17 – the third best time in program history. Freshman Nayla Harris, junior Yaria Akers, junior Rio Grande City alum Daniella Muniz and graduate student Jada Hoffman made up the relay. 
 
Freshman Sam Johnson II and junior Aisha Gay turned in big performances in the 400-meter races. Johnson took third in the men's 400-meter dash, lowering his personal record to 46.98, which is the second-best time in program history and makes him only the second student-athlete in history to run sub-47 in the event. Gay ran a personal best, sixth-fastest time in program history of 54.15 to take sixth in the women's 400 dash. 
 
Hoffman duplicated her personal best in the women's 100-meter dash, running 11.92 at the second straight meet to finish tied for 11^th. Her time is the fifth-best in program history. 
 
Freshman McAllen Memorial alum Sebastian Salinas had a good day in the mid-distance events. He ran a PR to win the men's 1,500-meter run Section B in 3:58.42, then tabbed a ninth-place finish in the men's 800-meter run Section B. 
 
Freshman Abraham Morales ran a PR in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing 8^th in 9:43.55. 
 
The Vaqueros' 4x400-meter relay teams had solid outings. The women's team, comprised of four freshmen in Ashley Lingueno, Brownsville Hanna alum Aliyah Castillo, Ja'Nyla Tucker and Jalyn Williams placed fourth in 3:49.64, the eighth best time in program history. The men's team was also made up entirely of freshmen in Derrius Henry, Jaqualand Fields, Brownsville Hanna alum Alejandro Arellano and Jamari Harts. UTRGV's men finished sixth. 
 
Freshman Rayja'nae Pettit recorded an outdoor personal best in the women's triple jump, clearing 11.77m to finish 23^rd. 
 
The Vaqueros will be back in action April 15 at Texas A&M-Kingsville's Cactus Cup. 
 
UTRGV Results
Women's hammer throw
8. Marlene Gutierrez, 61.80m 
• Program Record
 
Women's triple jump
23. Rayja'nae Pettit, 11.77m 
 
Women's 4x100-meter relay
6. Nayla Harris, Yaria Akers, Daniella Muniz, Jada Hoffman, 47.17 
• 3^rd fastest in program history 
 
Men's 1,500-meter run – Section B
1. Sebastian Salinas, 3:58.42 
 
Women's 100-meter hurdles
17. Uxia Pereira, 14.28  
 
Women's shot put – Section A 
25. Zoe Vlk, 13.41m 
 
Women's 400-meter dash
6. Aisha Gay, 54.15 
• 6^th fastest in program history 
 
Men's 400-meter dash
3. Sam Johnson II, 46.98 
• 2^nd fastest in program history 
 
Women's 100-meter dash
T11. Jada Hoffman, 11.92 
• T-5^th fastest in program history 
 
Men's 100-meter dash
T24. Jermarrion Stewart, 10.79 
 
Men's 800-meter run – Section B  
9. Sebastian Salinas, 1:56.58 
 
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase
8. Abraham Morales, 9:43.55
11. Ricardo Garcia, 10:00.14 
 
Women's 4x400-meter relay
4. Ashley Lingueno, Aliyah Castillo, Ja'Nyla Tucker, Jalyn Williams, 3:49.64 
• 8^th fastest in program history 
 
Men's 4x400-meter relay
6. Derrius Henry, Jaqualand Fields, Alejandro Arellano, Jamari Harts, 3:14.48 

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