New Mexico Athletics

UTEP T&F to Compete at MLK Invitational Saturday

1/20/2023 12:12:00 PM

HEAT SHEETS | SCHEDULE

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP track and field team will head up the road to UNM to compete at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday.

The meet will begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude at around 4:30 p.m. – Full Schedule.

LIVE RESULTS: http://liverunningresults.com.
STREAM: FloTrack.

Making the trip on the men's side are Jakub Belik (high jump), Daniel Bernal (3000m), Jalen Cadet (60m H, long jump, shot put, high jump), Stephen Carreto (400m, 4x400), Karon Dean (60m, 200m, 4x400), Ronaldo Griffiths (400m, 4x400), Joshua Hill (400m, 4x400), Aleks Hristov (shot put, weight throw), Dennis Johnson (60m, 200m), Maxwell Kipkosgei (600), Yusuf Mohamud (800m), Atiq Muhammad (60m, long jump), Elijah Munoz (60m, shot put, long jump), Juan Olmos (mile), Julio Pacheco (60m, 200m, 4x400), Mathew Polk (60m, 200m), Abdulraof Rashid (200m, 4x400), Emilio Rios Jr. (high jump), Michael Sims (800m), Kenneth Talavera (mile), Zacarias Velasquez (long jump), and Jordani Woodley (60m H, 4x400).

Competing for the women are Loubna Benhadja (400m, 4x400), Chinique Brown (400m, 4x400), Oghenekaro Brume (400m, 4x400), Niesha Burgher (60m, 200m, 4x400), Angie Calderon (3000m), Lizbeth Fierro (weight throw), Carshaylah Harrison (400m), Asia Hodge (60m, 200m), Ruth Jerubet (mile), Joan Kimaiyo (mile), Denae McFarlane (60m, 200m, 4x400), Natalie J. Murillo (weight throw), Victoria Ovalles (mile), Marisa Simpson (200m, 60m H, 4x400) and Karen Villa Medina (60m H, long jump, shot put).

PREVIOUS MEET NOTES
Simpson got off to a sensational start this season, clocking in a personal-best 8.23 and placing second in the 60-meter hurdles at the Texas Tech Corky Classic. The sophomore sensation blew her previous time away – a 9.03 at last year's Conference USA Indoor Championships. Simpson's time ranked no. 1 in C-USA and 16^thnationally.

Benhadja clocked in a school record 1:22.39 in the 600-yard race, placing third. The sophomore topped her previous best 1:35.69 at the MLK Jr. Invite last season.

Mohamud and Jerubet highlighted the day as the pair won their respective races. Jerubet placed first in the 3000-meter event (9:55.38), while Mohamud crossed the finish line first in the mile (4:14.68). Mohamud's time ranked second. Jerubet ranked no. 1 in C-USA.

Jerubet added to her successful day with a personal-best 4:59.01 in the mile run, placing fourth out of 39 competitors. Her time ranked first in C-USA.

Bernal (4:14.69) finished right behind Mohamud (4:14.68) in the mile, while Michael Sims finished sixth out of 45 total runners. Bernal's time ranked third in C-USA.

Talavera turned in a time of 2:25.88 in the 1000-meter event, placing third. He topped his previous best of 2:31.31 timed at the 2020 Corky Classic.

Dean set his personal best in the 60-meter dash first round with a time of 6.65. Dean, who raced a trio of times on Jan. 14, opened competition with a third-place finish in the qualifying round to advance to the next race, in which he set his PR. Dean clocked in a 6.66 in the final, placing fourth. Dean's previous best was a 6.68 at the MLK last season. Dean's time is ranked 18^th nationally and second in C-USA.

McFarlane clocked in a personal-best 7.52 in the 60-meter first round. Her previous best was a 7.53 at the New Mexico Team Open last year. Her time ranked third in C-USA.

Johnson clocked in a 6.81 in the qualifying round to advance to the next round of the 60-meter dash where he improved to 6.77. Johnson's time ranked fifth in C-USA.

Brume clocked in a personal-best 55.05 in the A Section 400-meter race, surpassing her previous best of 56.04 at the 2021 Roadrunner Invite.

Hill made his indoor debut, clocking in a 47.70 on the 400-meter dash. His time ranked 25^th nationally and no. 1 in C-USA.

Burgher, a transfer from Western Texas College, competed in his first event with UTEP, placing third with a personal-best 23.79 in the 200-meter dash. Her previous best was a 24.49 at the 2022 Jarvis Scott Open. Burgher's time ranked 25^th nationally and no. 1 in C-USA.

The women's 4x400-meter relay team finished sixth out of 26 programs. The relay team consisted of Benhadja, Burgher, Simpson and Brume who clocked in a 3:45.60. Saturday's time surpassed last year's best of 3:47.91.

2023 UTEP INDOOR TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE
Jan. 13-14       Texas Tech Corky Classic                                                        Lubbock, Texas
Jan. 21             Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collegiate Invitational                   Albuquerque, N.M.
Feb. 3-4           New Mexico Collegiate Classic                                               Albuquerque, N.M.
Feb. 10-11 Don Kirby Invitational                                                             Albuquerque, N.M.
Feb. 18-19       C-USA ITF Championships                                                       Birmingham, Ala.
March 10        NCAA ITF Championships                                                       Albuquerque, N.M.

For complete coverage of UTEP Track & Field/Cross Country, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPTrack (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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