RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros head track & field/cross country coach Shareese Hicks announced on Thursday the addition of 23 student-athletes to the men's and women's track & field rosters for the 2025 indoor and outdoor seasons. 
 
UTRGV's men's team is adding 10 student-athletes while the women's team welcomes 13. These Vaqueros join the 13 newcomers who are currently competing with the cross country program. 
 
"We are very pleased with our recruiting classes. We brought in a good balance of freshmen and transfers that embody what it means to be a student-athlete," Hicks said. "These new Vaqueros have already previously performed at a level where they can come in now and make an instant impact with our team. We have loaded up in event areas where we were lacking and have added in areas where we were already strong. Our presence will be felt more during championship competitions with this group." 
 
Men's Track & Field Recruiting Class 
Paul Agba | Freshman | Jumps | Richmond, TX | Randle HS  
Agba qualified for the 2024 Region III-5A meet and was the runner-up in the District 20-5A competition in high jump. In 2023, Agba clinched the title of District 20-5A champion, highlighting his consistent performance and dedication to the sport. He holds a personal best of 2.05 meters in high jump. 
 
Keamonie Archie | Sophomore | Jumps | Hays, KS | Fort Hays State University  
Archie is bringing his skill and collegiate experience to UTRGV after a big season at the NCAA Div. II level. As a freshman at Fort Hays State, he set the school record in the outdoor long jump with a jump of 7.55 meters and earned the title of 2024 NCAA DII All-American by finishing 11th at nationals. Archie earned five first-place finishes and eight top five finishes in the long jump during his freshman year. Prior to competing collegiately, he collected seven gold medals as a senior at Hays High School, including a win at the KSHSAA 5A Regional in Maize South championship and a runner-up finish at the KSHSAA State 5A Championship. 
 
Dante Barrera | Freshman | Throws | Rio Grande City, TX | Rio Grande City HS  
Barrera was a five-time gold medalist in shot put in the 2024 season. He took gold in both shot put and discus at the RGVCA Meet of Champions. Barrera was the District 30-5A champion in shot put and discus and took first in discus at the Area 29-30 meet. Barrera won the discus competition at the Region IV-5A meet to advance to the UIL 5A State Championships, where he took seventh. In 2023 he was a Region IV-5A qualifier in discus and the District 30-5A runner-up. Barrera brings his 16.48 meters personal best in shot put and his 54.10 meters personal best for discus to UTRGV this season. 
 
Artemio Belmontes IV | Freshman | Throws | Roma, TX | Roma HS 
Belmontes qualified for the Region IV-5A meet in discus and took third in the event at the RGVCA Meet of Champions with a personal record of 49.25 meters. In 2023 he was the District 30-5A champion in discus and went on to qualify for regionals. Belmontes was the 2022 District 30-5A runner-up and an area qualifier in discus.  
 
Corin Burns | Junior | Sprints | Georgetown, TX | Incarnate Word   
After two successful seasons competing in the Southland Conference for Incarnate Word, Burns joins the Vaqueros bringing his great talent and experience. His collegiate personal records are 6.66 seconds in the indoor 60 meters, 10.25 seconds in the outdoor 100 meters, and 20.86 seconds in the outdoor 200 meters. In the 2024 SLC Outdoor Championships, he placed 6th in the 200 meters, 4th with the 4x100 relay, and 7th with the 4x400 relay. At last year's indoor conference meet, Burns finished 3rd with the 4x400 relay. He was a NCAA West Preliminary qualifier in the 100 meters, 200 meters, as well as the 4x100 relay in 2023 after taking sixth in the 100 and 200 and third with the relay at the SLC Outdoor Championships. He scored in three events at the 2023 indoor conference meet. Prior to competing collegiately, Burns was a two-time qualifier for the UIL Class 5A State Championships in the 100 and 200 while at East View High School. He took bronze in the 200 at state in 2022. 
 
Zaire Cunningham | Freshman | Jumps | Cibolo, TX | Steele HS
Cunningham joins the Vaqueros after having success in high jump in high school. In 2024 he was the UIL Class 6A State Champion. He earned five gold medals in high jump as a senior, including the District 27-6A, Area 27-28 and Region IV-6A championships. His personal best is 2.07 meters after a stellar season.
 
Jaden Fuentes | Freshman | Sprints | Pharr, TX | PSJA North HS  
A local to the Rio Grande Valley, Fuentes holds a personal best of 10.96 in the 100-meter dash. Fuentes won gold in the 100-meter dash at 2024 District 31-5A championship and Area 31-32 5A meets. He was a Region IV-5A qualifier and placed fourth at RGVCA Meet of Champions in the 100. 
 
Diego Rodriguez | Freshman | Sprints | Roma, TX | Roma High School 
Rodriguez dominated the 100- and 200-meter dash throughout his decorated high school career. With personal records of 10.56 in the 100-meter dash and 21.47 in the 200-meter dash, Rodriguez earned seven wins in the 100 dash and five wins in the 200 dash in 2024. Rodriguez was a four-time District 30-5A champion in the 200 and a three-time district champion in the 100. The four-time Region IV-5A qualifier claimed the regional title in the 100 as a senior and took silver in the 200 to advance to his first UIL Class 5A State Championship, where he took seventh in the 200. Rodriguez also excelled in the 4x100 relay, helping his team receive a district championship and a sixth-place finish at the regional level. He had impressive performances at the RGVCA Meet of Champions, where he was the runner-up in both the 100 and 200 dashes in 2024. 
 
Cerrone Thompson | Junior | Sprints | Anchorage, AK | Our Lady of the Lake
Thompson brings collegiate experience to UTRGV after competing at the NAIA level for two seasons. Thompson has achieved personal records of 47.31 in the 400-meter dash and 22.02 in the 200-meter dash. In the 2024 season, he qualified for the NAIA Outdoor and Indoor Championships in both the 400 and 4x400-meter relay. He also secured a gold medal in the 4x800 at the Red River Athletic Conference. Thompson took the victory in the 400 at the Aurora Grand Prix and the Charles Austin Classic. In 2023, Thompson qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Championships in the 400 and 4x400 and won the Red River Athletic Conference titles in both events. During his time in high school, he was the 2022 Area 29-30 6A champion in the 400 and a Region IV-6A qualifier. In 2021, he was the District 29-6A runner-up in the 800. 
 
Richard Young | Freshman | Sprints | League City, TX | Clear Springs HS
Young joins the Vaqueros with personal records of 10.35 in the 100-meter dash, 21.81 in the 200 meters, and 48.26 in the 400 meters. His accomplishments include being a runner up in the 400 meters at the 2024 District 24-6A meet as well as a gold medal in the 4x400 meter race. Additionally, he qualified for the Region III-6A Championship in the 400 and the 4x400. 
 
Women's Track & Field Recruiting Class  
Efe Latham | Senior | Throws | Lasalle, Quebec, Canada | Liberty 
Latham is a senior bringing three years of collegiate experience to UTRGV. She started her career spending two years competing for Barton Community College, where she was a two-time qualifier for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. As a freshman, she took bronze in hammer at the outdoor national championship after earning silver at the Region VI meet. She placed as high as fifth in weight throw at the indoor national meet. Latham earned four top-five finishes at indoor and outdoor Region VI championships. Latham spent the 2024 season competing in NCAA Div. I at Liberty. She took sixth in shot put at the Conference USA outdoor championships and was ninth in hammer. At the indoor C-USA meet, Latham was eighth in weight throw and ninth in shot. She owns collegiate bests of 17.82 meters in weight throw, 53.36 meters in hammer, 14.06 meters in shot put, and 40.22 meters in javelin. 
 
Evalyn Pena | Freshman | Throws | Edinburg, TX | Edinburg Vela 
Pena was a two-time Region IV-5A qualifier in shot put and narrowly missed a state appearance in 2024, finishing third at the regional meet. She was the District 31-5A shot put champion and took bronze in discus as a senior. Pena was the runner-up in shot put at the RGVCA Meet of Champs in 2024 and finished eighth at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational. She was a consistently strong competitor in shot put and discus throughout high school. Pena brings personal bests of 12.04 meters in shot put and 38.40 meters in discus to UTRGV. 
 
Lauryn Menchaca | Freshman | Throws | McAllen, TX | McAllen HS
Menchaca was a four-year letterwinner and four-year area qualifier in shot put. As a senior in 2024, she was the District 31-5A and Area 31-32 runner-up in both discus and shot put, reaching the Region IV-5A meet in both events. She took third in discus at regionals and was the bronze medalist at the RGVCA Meet of Champs. Menchaca holds personal bests of 11.94 meters in shot put and 41.45 meters in discus. 
 
Michaela Mitchell | Freshman | Jumps/Multi | San Antonio, TX | Johnson High School
Mitchell did a little bit of everything at Johnson High School and comes to UTRGV as a multi. She reached the Region IV-6A meet in high jump and finished fifth in 2023. Mitchell competed in high jump, long jump, the 100- and 300-meter hurdles in high school and was a heptathlete with club track. 
 
Lazariah Bethany | Sophomore | Jumps | Sachse, TX | Stephen F. Austin
Bethany spent her freshman season competing for Stephen F. Austin and holds collegiate bests of 12.06 meters in triple jump and 5.51 meters in long jump. She scored at the 2024 Western Athletic Conference outdoor championships with a sixth-place finish in triple jump. She was ninth in triple at the WAC indoor championships. Bethany earned nine top-10 finishes last season, including taking gold in triple jump at the Cameron Burrell Alumni Invitational. In high school, Bethany was a two-time District 9-6A champion in triple jump and two-time qualifier to the Region II-6A meet while competing for Sachse. She competed for Lancaster as a senior was reached the Region II-5A meet in triple jump. 
 
Jizzale Davis | Freshman | Sprints | Friendswood, TX | Clear Brook HS 
Davis won the District 24-6A title in the 200-meter dash and took bronze in the 100-meter dash before qualifying for the Region III-6A meet in the 100 and 4x400-meter relay. She was a three-time area qualifier in the 200 at Clear Brook High School. Davis reached the Region III-6A meet in the 200 in 2023, finishing fifth. She brings personal bests of 11.63 in the 100 and 24.20 in the 200 to UTRGV. 
 
Saniyah Richardson | Freshman | Sprints | Temple, TX | Temple HS
Richardson brings personal bests of 11.98 in the 100-meter dash, 24.76 in the 200-meter dash, and 5.86 meters in long jump to UTRGV. She was the District 12-6A champion in the 200 and silver medalist in long jump as a senior and qualified to the Region II-6A meet in the 200, long jump and 4x100-meter relay. She earned bronze in long jump at the regional meet to advance to the UIL Class 6A State Championship, where she was eighth. Davis also qualified for the regional meet in the 200 as a junior and was a strong sprinter throughout her high school career. 
 
Teryn Green | Freshman | Sprints | Pearland, TX | Shadow Creek HS
Green was a two-time qualifier for the Region III-6A meet, advancing in the 400-meter dash as a senior and in long jump as a junior. She took third in the 400 at the 2024 District 23-6A meet and was sixth in long jump and seventh in triple jump. Green took bronze in the 400 at the area meet. She holds personal bests of 56.21 in the 400 and 25.03 in the 200-meter dash. 
 
Azayla Smith | Freshman | Sprints | Friendswood, TX | Clear Brook HS 
Smith reached the Region III-6A meet twice while competing for Clear Brook, advancing with the 4x400-meter relay as a senior and in the 400-meter dash in 2021. The long sprinter was a four-time area qualifier and earned several top-three finishes at District 24-6A meets, including taking bronze in the 800-meter run as a senior. She brings personal bests of 57.20 in the 400 and 2:13 in the 800 to UTRGV. 
 
Krystan Bright | Freshman | Hurdles | Cedar Hill, TX | Cedar Hill HS 
Bright had a stellar senior season competing in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles that was capped with a sixth-place finish at the UIL Class 6A State Championships in the 300 hurdles. She was the District 11-6A, Area 11-12 and Region II-6A champion in the 300 hurdles, and also won the district title in the 100 hurdles. Bright reached the Region II-6A meet in 2023 in the 100 hurdles after taking third at the district and area meets. She was the 100 hurdle champ at the 2022 area meet. Bright holds personal bests of 13.9 in the 100 hurdles and 1:02 in the 300 hurdles. 
 
Herminia Corado | Freshman | Hurdles | Edcouch, TX | Economedes, HS 
Corado dominated the hurdles throughout her high school career at Edinburg Economedes. She won three consecutive District 31-6A titles in the 300-meter hurdles and was the silver medalist as a freshman. In 2023 and 2024, she swept the district titles in the 300 and 100-meter hurdles. Corado was also a two-time area champion in the 300 hurdles after finishing third as a freshman and second as a sophomore. The four-time Region IV-6A qualifier took third in the 300 hurdles in 2024, just missing a trip to state. Corado was the 300 hurdles winner at three consecutive RGVCA Meet of Champion events and was fourth in the 100 hurdles as a senior, solidifying her place among the Valley's best hurdlers. Her 300 hurdles personal best is 43.75. 
 
Trezur Connley | Freshman | Hurdles | Duncanville, TX | Duncanville HS 
Connley brings a personal best of 14.05 in the 100-meter hurdles to UTRGV after a strong couple of seasons competing for Duncanville. She was the silver medalist at the 2023 and 2024 District 11-6A meets, then went on to win the area championship as a senior and was the runner-up as a junior. Connley reached the Region II-6A meet twice in the 100 hurdles, taking third in 2024 and fifth in 2023. 
 
Winisha Steele Michael | Freshman | Sprints | Plattsburgh, NY | Plattsburgh HS 
The sprinter from New York brings indoor and outdoor experience to UTRGV. She was a two-time state qualifier, reaching the 2024 NYSPHSSA State Indoor Championship in both the 55-meter dash and 300-meter dash. She was the Section 7 state qualifier meet winner in the 55 and took silver in the 300. In 2023, Michael qualified for the outdoor state meet and took seventh in the 100-meter dash after winning gold at the Section 7 state qualifying meet.