NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) junior La'Zariah Bethany won the Southland Conference (SLC) women's triple jump championship Friday with her program and personal best mark of 12.69 meters as competition continued at the SLC Outdoor Championships at Homer Bryce Stadium. 
 
Bethany was in the lead heading to finals after a strong third attempt, but was overtaken by two competitors on their fifth and sixth attempts, respectively. With all eyes and pressure on her as she took the runway for the final jump of the competition, Bethany leaned back, harnessed her power, and attacked. She was strong off the board and long in her strides, soaring into the sand pit with cheers already erupting from her coach. 
 
It didn't take long for confirmation. The official shouted, "12-69," and Bethany was swarmed by hugs and handshakes. She is the first conference champion of the weekend for UTRGV and put major points on the board for the Vaqueros women. Bethany topped the program record set in 1989 by UTRGV Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2012 inductee Monica (Wesley) Swift. 
 
The Vaqueros women also saw senior Efe Latham take the podium. Latham was the runner-up in women's shot put with a personal best mark of 15.78 meters, which is the No. 3 throw in outdoor program history. Freshman Avianna Milleradded to the score with a strong fifth-place finish in triple jump with a mark of 11.80 meters. 
 
The meet wraps up Saturday with field events starting at 11 a.m. and running events, all finals, beginning at 5 p.m. Fans can watch the evening session on ESPN+. 
 
UTRGV's stellar women's 800-meter group lived up to the hype and secured four spots in Saturday's final. Juniors N Vanee Anchike and Kailey Salazar earned automatic qualifications as they won their heats. Anchike is the top time qualifier after running 2:07.30 in the prelims, the No. 3 time in outdoor program history. Senior Lilliana Guerrero advanced on time as she ran 2:09.41, tying the fourth-fastest race in school history. Sophomore Santa Maria alum Mia Picazo also punched her ticket with a solid time of 2:11.80 to move on as the sixth qualifier. 
 
The strong men's hurdles crew came up big Friday, too. Four Vaqueros will be running in the men's 110-meter hurdles final, led by senior Daniel Siaffa, who ran a personal record time of 14.02 to take the No. 4 time in program history and advance as the fourth-fastest qualifier. Junior Jefferson Jean advanced with a prelim time of 14.18, the ninth-fastest in school history, and freshman JaDan Keiler tabbed the 10^th-best time in program history as he qualified for finals after running 14.19. 
 
The women's 100-meter hurdles final will also feature multiple Vaqueros. Freshman Dior Williams entered the meet as the No. 1 ranked hurdler in the conference and held strong with all eyes on her, running 13.41 to move on as the fastest qualifier. Her race is took the No. 8 spot in the program record books. Sophomore Trezur Connley secured her spot in the final with a personal best time of 13.94. 
 
Senior Kaliyah Poston and sophomore Jizzale Davis both ran solid races to advance to the final of the women's 100-meter dash. Poston moved on after running 11.60, and Davis clocked a personal best 11.61 to secure her second finals trip of the meet. 
 
Junior Treasure Vallerie and senior Derrius Henry will be representing UTRGV in the women's and men's 400-meter dash, respectively. Vallerie advanced to the women's final as the No. 3 time qualifier after running 54.26. Henry is the No. 5 time qualifier in the men's race after running 47.16 in the prelims. Junior Brownsville Hanna alum Alejandro Arellano ran the eighth-fastest time in the men's race, clocking in at 47.34, but missed the final due to finishing third in a fast heat. The final spot went to a heat winner, who claimed the automatic ticket. 
 
Sophomore Richard Young paced UTRGV's men's 100-meter dash group with a 19^th-place finish in 10.66. In the men's 800-meter run, senior Abraham Morales ran 1:53.60 to take 20^th. 
 
The Vaqueros totaled six personal bests and made eight entries into the program record books during the second day of the conference meet. 
 
UTRGV RESULTS
Friday Field Events 
Men's long jump
Keamonie Archie, NM 
 
Women's shot put 
2. Efe Latham, 15.78m
· 3^rd in program history 
19. Evalyn Pena, 12.27m 
 
Women's triple jump
1. La'Zariah Bethany, 12.69m 
· Program Record 
5. Avianna Miller, 11.80m 
 
Friday Track Events 
Women's 100-meter hurdles prelims
1. Dior Williams, 13.41 (advanced to final) 
· 8^th in program history 
8. Trezur Connley, 13.94 (advanced to final) 
12. Ashley Lingueno, 14.27 
 
Men's 110-meter hurdles prelims
4. Daniel Siaffa, 14.02 (advanced to final)
· 4^th in program history 
7. Jefferson Jean, 14.18 (advanced to final)
· 9^th in program history 
8. JaDan Keiler, 14.19 (advanced to final)
· 10^th in program history 
10. Jaylen Critton, 14.30 
 
Women's 400-meter dash prelims 
3. Treasure Vallerie, 54.26 (advanced to final) 
20. Aliyah Castillo, 57.09 
 
Men's 400-meter dash prelims
5. Derrius Henry, 47.16 (advanced to final) 
8. Alejandro Arellano, 47.34 
 
Women's 100-meter dash prelims
3. Kaliyah Poston, 11.60 (advanced to final) 
4. Jizzale Davis, 11.61 (advanced to final) 
 
Men's 100-meter dash prelims 
19. Richard Young, 10.66 
22. Gael Romo, 10.73 
23. Diego Rodriguez, 10.74 
Derrick Hahn, DNF 
 
Women's 800-meter run prelims 
1. N Vanee Anchike, 2:07.30 (advanced to final)
· 3^rd in program history 
4. Lilliana Guerrero, 2:09.41 (advanced to final)
· T-7^th in program history 
6. Mia Picazo, 2:11.80 (advanced to final)
10. Kailey Salazar, 2:14.01 (advanced to final)
24. Emily Martinez, 2:21.42 
 
Men's 800-meter run prelims
20. Abraham Morales, 1:53.60 
21. Adrianno Gonzalez, 1:54.20 
 
UTRGV SCHEDULE
Saturday Field Events 
Women's discus, 11 a.m. 
Trina Hubert 
 
Men's high jump, 1 p.m. 
Paul Agba 
Zaire Cunningham 
Antwoine Warren 
 
Saturday Track Events (All Finals) 
Women's 4x100-meter relay, 5 p.m. 
 
Men's 4x100-meter relay, 5:10 p.m. 
 
Women's 1,500-meter run, 5:20 p.m. 
N Vanee Anchike
 
Men's 1,500-meter run, 5:30 p.m. 
Abraham Morales 
Nirmit Dahiya 
 
Women's 100-meter hurdles, 5:40 p.m. 
Dior Williams 
Trezur Connley 
 
Men's 110-meter hurdles, 5:50 p.m. 
Daniel Siaffa
Jefferson Jean
JaDan Keiler 
 
Women's 400-meter dash, 6 p.m. 
Treasure Vallerie 
 
Men's 400-meter dash, 6:10 p.m. 
Derrius Henry 
 
Women's 100-meter dash, 6:20 p.m. 
Kaliyah Poston 
Jizzale Davis
 
Women's 800-meter run, 6:40 p.m. 
N Vanee Anchike 
Lilliana Guerrero 
Mia Picazo 
Kailey Salazar 
 
Women's 400-meter hurdles, 7 p.m. 
Talyna Ligier
 
Men's 400-meter hurdles, 7:10 p.m. 
Daniel Siaffa 
 
Women's 200-meter dash, 7:20 p.m. 
Jizzale Davis 
Kaliyah Poston
 
Women's 5,000-meter run, 7:40 p.m. 
N Vanee Anchike 
 
Men's 5,000-meter run, 8 p.m. 
Nirmit Dahiya 
 
Women's 4x400-meter relay, 8:25 p.m. 
 
Men's 4x400-meter relay, 8:40 p.m. 

Support UTRGV Track & Field | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube