SAN MARCOS – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros outdoor track & field teams are returning to San Marcos to compete in the Bobcat Invitational Thursday through Saturday at the Texas State Track & Field Complex.
On Thursday, field events begin at 9 a.m. and running events will commence at 12:30 p.m. Friday's action starts at 10 a.m. with field events and 6 p.m. for running events. The meet wraps up Saturday with field events starting at 10 a.m. and running events getting underway at 1:30 p.m.
The Vaqueros competed in San Marcos last week to open the outdoor season and saw immediate success. Junior
Jamari Harts tabbed a program record in a second-place finish in the men's 200-meter dash and won the 400-meter dash. Sophomore
Kailey Salazar set a program record in the women's 800-meter run and took second in the event. Senior
Samantha Gonzalez broke the program record in the women's 1,500-meter run, placing third, and was eighth in the 800.
UTRGV collected five event wins and nine personal bests during the season opener. Though it was a good start, head coach
Shareese Hicks said she doesn't want the team to get too comfortable and think they are where they want to be. She knows the times can get faster and the marks will be bigger, so she's keeping them focused and hungry as they head into the second meet of the season.
As the Vaqueros continue slowly accelerating into full outdoor mode, they're keeping an eye on the Southland Conference (SLC) performance list and the NCAA West qualifying list. After one meet, UTRGV holds the No. 1 spot in three men's running events and one men's field event, while taking the top spot in four women's running events and one women's field event.
The Vaqueros have nine times or marks ranked in the top 50 nationally, led by junior
Aaron Cooper's triple jump mark of 15.48 meters. Cooper leads the SLC, is fifth in the west and ninth in the nation with his opening jump. Harts is No. 1 in the SLC in both the 200 and 400, and his 400 time of 46.81 currently ranks 14
th in the nation.
Hicks has been particularly impressed with the women's 800-meter group, led by Salazar. "Killer Kailey," as she's affectionately known by the team, is No. 1 in the conference with her time of 2:09.41 and is 10
th in the west and 36
th in the nation. She's followed closely by junior
Lilliana Guerrero, who ranks second in the conference. In fact, UTRGV owns four of the top five women's 800 times in the SLC, with freshman Santa Maria alum
Mia Picazo sitting fourth and Gonzalez in fifth. Hicks praised the group for pushing each other in practice and supporting each other on meet day. The event squad picked up clutch points at the indoor conference meet and will continue building through the outdoor season.
THURSDAY
Field Events
Women's discus A, 12 p.m.
Adelaide Fleischmann
Hannah Hilding
Track Events
Men's 100-meter dash B, 1:50 p.m.
Jalen Nero
Women's 200-meter dash B, 4:15 p.m.
Aliyah Castillo
Nayla Harris
Trinity Kirk
Men's 200-meter dash B, 4:45 p.m.
Jalen Nero
Gael Romo
Richard Young
Women's 800-meter run, 6 p.m.
Lilliana Guerrero
Mia Picazo
Kailey Salazar
Men's 800-meter run, 6:30 p.m.
Mario Cantarero
Abraham Morales
Women's 5,000-meter run, 8 p.m.
Faith Cruz
Samantha Gonzalez
Men's 5,000-meter run, 8:20 p.m.
Kevin Cardenas
FRIDAY
Field Events
Women's long jump A, 1 p.m.
Kailah Gilmore
Men's long jump A, follows women
Keamonie Archie
Track Events
Women's 400-meter hurdles, 6 p.m.
Krystan Bright
Men's 400-meter hurdles, 6:40 p.m.
Jaylen Critton
Women's 200-meter dash A, 7:30 p.m.
Zoe Adams
Jizzale Davis
Men's 200-meter dash A, 8 p.m.
Alejandro Arellano
Corin Burns
Jamari Harts
Women's 1,500-meter run, 8:30 p.m.
Faith Cruz
Samantha Gonzalez
Lilliana Guerrero
Mia Picazo
Kailey Salazar
Men's 1,500-meter run, 9 p.m.
Mario Cantarero
Abraham Morales
SATURDAY
Field Events
Women's hammer throw A, 10 a.m.
Hannah Hilding
Efe Latham
Women's high jump, 10 a.m.
Achol Maywin
Women's triple jump, 10 a.m.
La'Zariah Bethany
Men's triple jump, follows women
Aaron Cooper
Hebrew Hunter
Women's shot put A, follows men
Efe Latham
Track Events
Women's 100-meter hurdles A, 2:35 p.m.
Krystan Bright
Trezur Connley
Men's 110-meter hurdles A, 3 p.m.
Jaylen Critton
Zach Voss
Women's 400-meter dash A, 3:30 p.m.
Zoe Adams
Aliyah Castillo
Trinity Kirk
Men's 400-meter dash A, 3:50 p.m.
Alejandro Arellano
Jamari Harts
Derrius Henry
Cerrone Thompson
Richard Young
Women's 100-meter dash A, 4:10 p.m.
Jizzale Davis
Nayla Harris
Men's 100-meter dash A, 4:25 p.m.
Keamonie Archie
Corin Burns
Gael Romo
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