HOUSTON – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros indoor track & field teams had a strong Friday opening competition at the Robert Platt Invitational at Houston's Yeoman Fieldhouse. 
 
UTRGV tallied nine personal records as the Vaqueros racked up four top-five finishes. Senior Ricardo Garcia ended the day by winning the men's 3,000-meter run, hitting a new PR of 8:46.71. Junior Rio Grande City alum Alex Canales followed close behind in fourth, and graduate student JD Corona ran a PR while finishing 13^th. 
 
Canales and Corona teamed up with senior Brownsville Porter alum Jorge Salazar and sophomore Abraham Morales to take fifth in the men's distance medley relay – a strong showing for the group's first race of the season and a good way for the distance crew to create some momentum. 
 
Sophomore Symoria Adkins claimed her spot in the semifinals of the women's 60-meter hurdles by winning her heat in 8.55, the fifth-fastest time in program history. She'll try to earn a spot in the finals Saturday at 2 p.m. Adkins also advanced to semis in the women's 60-meter dash after finishing sixth in prelims in 7.53, taking the No. 3 spot in the record books. 
 
Freshman James Voss was 14^th in the preliminary round of the men's 60-meter hurdles, claiming a spot in the semifinals with a time of 8.14. He takes the third spot in the indoor program record books. 
 
UTRGV's 400-meter dashers had a good day on the track. In the women's race, junior Zoë Adams took fourth with a personal record time of 55.22, taking the No. 4 spot in program history. Sophomore Sam Johnson II was fourth in the men's race, also hitting a new PR and moving up to No. 6 in history with a time of 48.29. Sophomore Brownsville Hanna alum Aliyah Castillo ran a personal best in the women's race and senior Jermarrion Stewart finished 10^th in the men's field. 
 
Junior Kevin Washington earned a sixth-place finish in the men's triple jump with a PR mark of 15.08 meters, putting him second in program history. Sophomore Hannah Hilding continued her progress in the women's weight throw, launching a new personal best of 16.68 meters to finish seventh. 
 
Sophomore Jamari Harts and junior Jalen Nero matched their bests in the men's 60-meter dash. Harts led the 60 group with a 30^th-place finish, tying the No. 9 time in the record books. 
 
The Robert Platt Invitational will wrap up Saturday at the Yeoman Fieldhouse. Action begins with field events at 11 a.m. 
 
Friday Results 
Women's weight throw 
7. Hannah Hilding, 16.68m 
 
Men's distance medley relay 
5. Alex Canales, Jorge Salazar, JD Corona, Abraham Morales, 10:25.42 
 
Men's triple jump 
6. Kevin Washington, 15.08m 
· 2^nd best in program history 
 
Women's 60-meter hurdles prelims (24 advance, HW + next 17 best times) 
6. Symoria Adkins, 8.55 (advanced to semis) 
· 5^th fastest in program history 
 
Men's 60-meter hurdles prelims (24 advance, HW + next 16 best times) 
14. James Voss, 8.14 (advanced to semis) 
· 3^rd fastest in program history 
34. Jaylen Critton, 8.57 
 
Women's 60-meter dash prelims (24 advance, top two each heat)
6. Symoria Adkins, 7.53 (advanced to semis) 
· 3^rd fastest in program history 
30. Nayla Harris, 7.70 
45. Kailah Gilmore, 7.87  
47. Yaria Akers, 7.88 
 
Men's 60-meter dash prelims (24 advance, HW + next 12 best times) 
30. Jamari Harts, 6.90 
· T-9^th fastest in program history 
38. Jaleel Scott, 6.97 
43. Jalen Nero, 6.99 
 
Women's 400-meter dash
4. Zoë Adams, 55.22 
· 4^th fastest in program history 
25. Aliyah Castillo, 58.67 
34. Kailey Salazar, 1:00.17 
43. Lani Brewer, 1:01.26 
 
Men's 400-meter dash
4. Sam Johnson II, 48.29 
· 6^th fastest in program history 
10. Jermarrion Stewart, 48.64 
25. Emmanuel Wanga, 49.44 
33. Derrius Henry, 50.02 
 
Men's 3,000-meter run
1. Ricardo Garcia, 8:46.71 
4. Alex Canales, 8:52.04 
13. JD Corona, 9:03.69 
 
Saturday Schedule
Women's high jump, 11 a.m. 
Penny Alanis 
 
Women's shot put, 12 p.m. 
Hannah Hilding 
Omolola Kuponiyi 
 
Men's shot put, 12 p.m. (follows women) 
Antoine Walker 
 
Women's 60-meter dash semifinals, 1:30 p.m. (eight advance) 
Symoria Adkins 
 
Men's 60-meter hurdles semifinals, 1:50 p.m. (eight advance) 
James Voss 
 
Women's 60-meter hurdles semifinals, 2 p.m. (eight advance) 
Symoria Adkins 
 
Women's long jump, 2 p.m. 
Kailah Gilmore 
Jordyn Tiggs 
Rayja'nae Pettit 
 
Men's long jump, 2 p.m. 
Hebrew Hunter 
Kevin Washington 
Jedidiah Udunna 
 
Women's mile, 2:25 p.m. 
Samantha Gonzalez (Section 2) 
 
Men's mile, 2:50 p.m. 
Abraham Morales (Section 2) 
 
Women's 60-meter hurdles final, 3:10 p.m. 
TBD
 
Men's 60-meter hurdles final, 3:15 p.m. 
TBD
 
Women's 60-meter dash final, 3:20 p.m. 
TBD
 
Women's 800-meter run, 3:30 p.m. 
Kailey Salazar (Section 2) 
Estrella Medellin (Section 5) 
 
Men's 800-meter run, 4 p.m. 
Jorge Salazar (Section 3) 
 
Women's 200-meter dash, 4:30 p.m. 
Nayla Harris (Section 5) 
Lani Brewer (Section 7) 
Aliyah Castillo (Section 10) 
Ashley Lingueno (Section 12) 
Zoë Adams (Section 18) 
Yaria Akers (Section 18) 
Symoria Adkins (Section 24) 
 
Men's 200-meter dash, 4:50 p.m. 
James Voss (Section 2) 
Jaylen Critton (Section 5) 
Jaleel Scott (Section 7) 
Jamari Harts (Section 8) 
Jalen Nero (Section 11) 
Gael Romo (Section 11) 
Emmanuel Wanga (Section 15) 
Sam Johnson II (Section 16) 
Jermarrion Stewart (Section 18) 
 
Women's 3,000-meter run, 5:10 p.m. 
Samantha Gonzalez 
 
Women's 4x400-meter relay, 5:40 p.m. 
Yaria Akers, Kailey Salazar, Nayla Harris, Estrella Medellin (Section 1) 
Aliyah Castillo, Symoria Adkins, Lani Brewer, Zoë Adams (Section 4) 
 
Men's 4x400-meter relay, 6:10 p.m. 
Gael Romo, Jamari Harts, Jaylen Critton, Jalen Nero (Section 3) 
Derrius Henry, Jermarrion Stewart, Emmanuel Wanga, Sam Johnson II (Section 6) 

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