NACOGDOCHES – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros outdoor track & field program saw four student-athletes qualify for finals in three running events during the opening day of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championships Thursday at Homer Bryce Stadium. 
 
Senior Edinburg North alum Tristan Pena was the first UTRGV representative to punch a ticket to finals. He ran a personal record 3:51.64 in the men's 1,500-meter run to finish 12^th in prelims and advance to finals. Sophomore Rio Grande City alum Alex Canales also ran a PR in the event. 
 
UTRGV was well-represented in the women's 200-meter dash. In the third heat of the event, freshman Symoria Adkins and junior Aisha Gay got off the blocks quick and dominated the race to finish first and second. They both advanced to finals, with Adkins qualifying automatically as the heat winner in 23.94 and Gay getting in after tying her personal best time of 24.01. Those are the fifth and T-seventh best performances in program history. 

Freshman Jaylen Critton advanced to Saturday's final in the men's 400-meter dash, closing strong in his prelim race to clock in at 54.73 and claim the eighth qualifying spot. 
 
Freshman Ashley Lingueno sits in fourth place in the heptathlon with 2,966 points through four events. She opened her campaign with a personal record in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing fifth in 14.66. She was third in the 200-meter dash, fifth in shot put and seventh in high jump. 
 
The women's hammer throw was postponed because the throwing ring at Stephen F. Austin's facilities flooded after rain caused a river behind the throws area to overflow. Some of Thursday's multi events were completed at nearby Nacogdoches High School. The event will now begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
 
The meet continues Friday starting at 10 a.m. with the heptathlon, which will finish with the long jump, javelin and 800-meter run. The heptathlon schedule was also impacted by the flooding as the javelin will now start at 1:30 p.m. with the 800-meter run to follow. Field events begin at 12:15 p.m. for UTRGV and running events will start at 4:30. UTRGV will have its first running final Friday as freshman Abraham Morales competes in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase to end the day. 
 
Running events will be broadcast live on ESPN+ starting at 4:30 p.m. and can also be streamed on WAC International. 
 
UTRGV Thursday Results
Heptathlon (through four events) 
4. Ashley Lingueno, 2,966 points 
            5. 100-meter hurdles, 14.66 
            7. High jump, 1.52m 
            5. Shot put, 11.06m  
            3. 200-meter dash, 25.29 
 
Men's 1,500-meter prelim (12 advance to finals)
12. Tristan Pena, 3:51.64 (advanced to finals) 
29. Alex Canales, 4:06.33 
 
Women's 1,500-meter prelim (12 advance to finals)
31. Ana Hernandez, 4:54.81 
33. Faith Cruz, 4:57.16 
 
Men's 200-meter dash prelim (8 advance to finals)
16. Yashawn Hamilton, 21.46 
19. Jermarrion Stewart, 21.59 
32. Sam Johnson II, 21.90 
38. Jaleel Scott, 22.43 
40. Jaqualand Fields, 22.50 
 
Women's 200-meter prelim (8 advance to finals)
6. Symoria Adkins, 23.94 (advanced to finals) 
• 5^th fastest in program history 
8. Aisha Gay, 24.01 (advanced to finals) 
• T-7^th fastest in program history 
24. Yaria Akers, 24.82 
29. Jada Hoffman, 25.01 
38. Aliyah Castillo, 25.76 
40. Lani Brewer, 26.11 
 
Men's 400-meter hurdles prelim (8 advance to finals)
8. Jaylen Critton, 54.73 (advanced to finals) 
13. Alex Galvan, 56.04 
 
Women's 400-meter hurdles prelim (8 advance to finals)
21. Uxia Pereira, 1:05.05 
 
Friday Schedule 
Heptathlon
Ashley Lingueno 
            Long jump, 10 a.m. 
            Javelin, 1:30 p.m. 
            800-meter run, following javelin
            
Men's long jump, 12:15 p.m. 
Aaron Cooper 
Jedidiah Udunna 
 
Women's shot put, 2:30 p.m. 
Marlene Gutierrez 
Hannah Hilding 
Ana Rodriguez 
Zoe Vlk 
 
Women's long jump, 3:15 p.m. 
Ashley Lingueno 
Rayja'nae Pettit 

Women's hammer throw, 4:30 p.m. 
Marlene Gutierrez 
Hannah Hilding 
 
Women's 100-meter hurdles prelim, 4:45 p.m. 
Symoria Adkins 
Uxia Pereira 
 
Men's 800-meter run prelim, 5 p.m. 
Tristan Pena 
Jorge Salazar 
 
Women's 800-meter run prelim, 5:15 p.m. 
Estrella Medellin 
 
Men's 400-meter dash prelim, 5:30 p.m. 
Jaqualand Fields 
Jamari Harts 
Derrius Henry 
Sam Johnson II 
Jermarrion Stewart 
 
Women's 400-meter dash prelim, 5:45 p.m. 
Lani Brewer 
Aliyah Castillo 
Aisha Gay 
 
Men's 100-meter dash prelim, 6 p.m. 
Yashawn Hamilton 
Jaleel Scott 
 
Women's 100-meter dash prelim, 6:15 p.m. 
Yaria Akers 
Jada Hoffman 
Daniella Muniz 
 
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, 7:30 p.m. 
Abraham Morales 
 
Saturday Schedule
Women's discus, 10 a.m. 
Hannah Hilding 
Ana Rodriguez 
Zoe Vlk 
 
Men's triple jump, 12 p.m.
Aaron Cooper 
Marco Guajardo 
 
Women's triple jump, 3 p.m. 
Rayja'nae Pettit 
 
Men's 4x100-meter relay, 3:30 p.m. 
Jaqualand Fields, Yashawn Hamilton, Sam Johnson II, Jaleel Scott, Jermarrion Stewart 
 
Women's 4x100-meter relay, 3:40 p.m. 
Symoria Adkins, Yaria Akers, Aisha Gay, Jada Hoffman, Daniella Muniz 
 
Men's 1,500-meter final, 3:50 p.m. 
Tristan Pena 
 
Women's javelin, 4 p.m. 
Hannah Hilding 
 
Women's 100-meter hurdles final, 4:20 p.m. 
TBD
 
Men's 400-meter dash final, 4:30 p.m. 
TBD
 
Women's 400-meter dash final, 4:40 p.m. 
TBD
 
Men's 100-meter dash final, 4:50 p.m. 
TBD
 
Women's 100-meter dash final, 4:55 p.m. 
TBD
 
Men's 800-meter run final, 5 p.m. 
TBD
 
Women's 800-meter run final, 5:10 p.m. 
TBD
 
Men's 400-meter hurdles final, 5:20 p.m. 
Jaylen Critton 
 
Women's 200-meter dash final, 5:50 p.m. 
Symoria Adkins 
Aisha Gay
 
Men's 5,000-meter run, 6 p.m. 
Alex Canales 
Ricardo Garcia 
Abraham Morales 
Tristan Pena 
 
Women's 5,000-meter run, 6:20 p.m. 
Faith Cruz 
Ana Hernandez 
 
Men's 4x400-meter relay, 6:40 p.m. 
Jaqualand Fields, Jamari Harts, Derrius Henry, Sam Johnson II, Jermarrion Stewart 
 
Women's 4x400-meter relay, 6:45 p.m. 
Lani Brewer, Aliyah Castillo, Aisha Gay, Ashley Lingueno, Uxia Pereira 

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