FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophomore Jedidiah Udunna broke a 29-year-old men's long jump program record Friday as The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros track & field program kicked off the indoor season with a strong day at the Arkansas Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center. 
 
Udunna was dynamic in the long jump, jumping 7.59 meters to win the event and claim his second UTRGV record. He used a big first jump to set the tone for his day and secured the victory on his third attempt. 
 
Freshman Omolola Kuponiyi impressed in her collegiate debut, taking silver in the women's shot put. A big throw on her second attempt had her in control, then she bested her mark on her final attempt to secure the runner-up spot. 
 
UTRGV's men's triple jumpers shined to open their seasons. Freshman Hebrew Hunter took third with a mark of 14.85 meters, good for the No. 2 spot in the record books. Junior Kevin Washington finished seventh and notched the fifth-best jump in program history, clearing 14.39 meters. 
 
The Vaqueros found a lot of success on the track, too. The sprinters were solid, combining to make four record book entries and tally 10 personal records. 
 
Freshman Weslaco East alum Gael Romo looked solid in his collegiate debut, running 6.87 to finish 12^th in the men's 60-meter dash prelims and tie the fifth-best performance in program history. He followed that up with a 14^th place finish to lead UTRGV's men's 200-meter dash contingency, running 22.07 to tie the 10^th-fastest race in program history. 
 
Sophomore Nayla Harris finished 16^th in the women's 60-meter dash prelims, clocking in with a PR time of 7.65 to move into ninth in program history. Junior Zoe Adams, competing for the first time for UTRGV, made an immediate mark by running 56.29 in the women's 400-meter dash to place sixth and claim the No. 6 spot in the record books. Adams and Harris also both hit personal bests in the 200 dash, finishing 11^th and 26^th, respectively, in 25.30 and 26.06. 
 
Junior Jalen Nero ran a personal best in the men's 60 dash. In the 400, sophomore Brownsville Hanna alum Aliyah Castillo and sophomore Lani Brewer both ran personal records in the women's race and sophomore Derrius Henry hit a PR in the men's race. Sophomore Tolu Odetola marked a personal-best 11.50 meters in the women's triple jump to take eighth. 
 
Freshman James Voss turned in a solid race in the men's 60-meter hurdles prelims, running 8.18 to finish 14^th in the second-fastest time in program history. Sophomore Ashley Lingueno ran a PR in the women's 60-meter hurdles qualifying round. 
 
Sophomore Abraham Morales paced the distance crew with a personal best in the men's mile and was three-tenths of a second away from hitting a PR in the 800-meter run. Junior Samantha Gonzalez was ninth in the women's 3,000-meter run. 
 
The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Adams, senior Aisha Gay, Castillo and Lingueno took 12^th to close out the day. 
 
UTRGV totaled 15 personal records and made eight entries into the record books during the season-opening meet. The Vaqueros will look to build on this momentum at their next meet Jan. 20 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational in Albuquerque hosted by New Mexico. 
 
UTRGV Results 
Men's shot put
14. Antoine Walker, 14.00m 
 
Men's 1-mile run
21. Abraham Morales, 4:19.60 
 
Women's shot put 
2. Omolola Kuponiyi, 14.10m 
9. Hannah Hilding, 12.46m 
 
Women's 60-meter hurdles qualifying (seven fastest times advance to prelims) 
9. Ashley Lingueno, 9.11 
 
Women's 60-meter dash qualifying (seven fastest times advance to prelims) 
11. Symoria Adkins, 7.70 
13. Aisha Gay, 7.86
17. Kailah Gilmore, 8.02
20. Daniella Muniz, 8.08
 
Men's 60-meter dash qualifying (six fastest times advance to prelims) 
7. Jaleel Scott, 6.97 
9. Jalen Nero, 6.99 
13. Sam Johnson II, 7.02
14. Jermarrion Stewart, 7.02 
45. James Voss, 7.30 
 
Women's long jump
8. Rayja'nae Pettit, 5.47m 
T16. Kailah Gilmore, 5.25m
T16. Jordyn Tiggs, 5.25m
24. Gabrielle Thomas, 5.02m
25. Tolu Odetola, 5.00m 
 
Men's long jump  
1. Jedidiah Udunna, 7.59m
• Program Record 
16. Kevin Washington, 6.66m 
 
Men's 60-meter hurdles prelims (3 HW + next five fastest advance to final) 
14. James Voss, 8.18 
• 2^nd fastest in program history 
 
Women's 60-meter dash prelims (4 HW + next four fastest advance to final)  
16. Nayla Harris, 7.65
• 9^th fastest in program history 
28. Yaria Akers, 7.94 
 
Men's 60-meter dash prelims (4 HW + next four fastest advance to final) 
12. Gael Romo, 6.87 
• T-5^th fastest in program history 
 
Women's 400-meter dash 
6. Zoe Adams, 56.29 
• 6^th fastest in program history 
16. Aliyah Castillo, 59.55 
18. Lani Brewer, 1:00.09 
 
Men's 400-meter dash 
10. Derrius Henry, 49.35 
23. Emmanuel Wanga, 51.13 
25. Jamari Harts, 51.57 
 
Women's triple jump  
8. Tolu Odetola, 11.50m 
10. Gabrielle Thomas, 11.33m 
 
Men's triple jump 
3. Hebrew Hunter, 14.85m 
• 2^nd best in program history 
7. Kevin Washington, 14.39m 
• 5^th best in program history 
 
Women's weight throw 
10. Hannah Hilding, 15.08m 
 
Women's 800-meter run  
18. Estrella Medellin, 2:20.72 
21. Kailey Salazar, 2:21.77 
 
Men's 800-meter run
19. Abraham Morales, 1:59.41 
27. Jorge Salazar, 2:04.04 
 
Women's 200-meter dash 
7. Aisha Gay, 24.90 
11. Zoe Adams, 25.30 
20. Yaria Akers, 25.85 
26. Nayla Harris, 26.06 
 
Men's 200-meter dash 
14. Gael Romo, 22.07 
• T-10^th fastest in program history 
17. Jalen Nero, 22.14
18. Sam Johnson II, 22.15
19. Jermarrion Stewart, 22.18 
28. Jaleel Scott, 22.61 
 
Women's 3,000-meter run
9. Samantha Gonzalez, 10:33.32 
 
Men's 3,000-meter run
24. Alex Canales, 8:50.40 
33. Ricardo Garcia, 8:59.81 
 
Women's 4x400-meter relay
12. Zoe Adams, Aisha Gay, Aliyah Castillo, Ashley Lingueno, 3:55.88 

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