Smith Sets School Record Again, Bright & Bailey Claim Victories on Final Day at the UNM Collegiate Classic

UTEP Miners

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The UTEP track and field team saw more success on the final day at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in the Albuquerque Convention Center Saturday afternoon.

After 14 student-athletes set personal bests on Friday, on Saturday one set a school record, two won their respective events and eight more career bests were set.

"The men's side displayed a very good meet, tons of new personal bests were set on that side. The team strongly improved their position for the conference meet," UTEP Head Coach Mika Laaksonen said. "The women didn't have a bad meet either as a few individuals stood out. We're two weeks away from the Conference USA Championships, but will return to Albuquerque next week for the final tune-up. We're also sending three distance student-athletes – Titus Cheruiyot and Rodgers Korir, and Carolyne Chepkosgei – to Iowa State next weekend, providing them with an opportunity to run a NCAA Indoor Championship qualifying time there in fast-paced races."

Shakeem Smith has been a speedster this indoor season, breaking his own school record with a time of 7.89, and finishing fourth in the men's 60m hurdles. He broke his previous mark of 7.90 set a few weeks back at the Corky Classic.

Sean Bailey raced out to a personal-best 46.37 in the men's 400m dash with a gold-medal finish, while Jevaughn Powell placed third with a time of 47.50.

Chantoba Bright won her second overall event this season, leaping out to a 12.98m mark in the women's triple jump.

Benjamin Coronado had a great day, as Franklin HS graduate recorded a 17.47m mark in the men's shot put, best for third place, and blowing past his previous personal best of 15.94m.

In the women's shot put, Sah-Jay Stevens placed eighth with a toss of 13.77m. Cierra Chenault set a personal best with a toss of 11.92m.

Maribel Caicedo set a personal mark in the 60m hurdle, clocking in an 8.37, while she sprinted out to a 7.67 in her first ever 60m dash.

Devin Mungro hit a personal best mark with a 14.12m leap in the men's triple jump.

Sam Zambrano set a personal best with a time of 4:40.21 in the men's mile.

Carolyne Chepkosgei finished in third in the women's mile run, posting a 4:59.08.

Kenneth Talavera placed sixth in the men's 800m, posting a time of 1:54.31. In the women's 800m, Karoline Daland clocked in a 2:15.36, good for sixth.

In the men's 400m 4x400 relay, the team of Flournoy, Bailey, Powell and Bynaum placed fourth, clocking in a 3:12.72. On the women's side, the team of Yasmine George, Madison Gibson, Natalia Roberts and Carshaylah Harrison posted a 3:52.96.

Up Next
The Miners will travel to a pair of events next weekend. The majority of the team will compete at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational hosted by New Mexico on Feb. 13-14, while three distance runners, Titus Cheruiyot and Korir will compete in the 5K, and Chepkosgei will compete in the 800m at the Iowa State Classic on Feb. 14-15. The C-USA Championships will be held on Feb. 22-23 in Birmingham, Ala.

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