Burgher Sets School Record as UTEP T&F Finishes MLK Invite Saturday Afternoon

1/21/2023 6:37:00 PM

FINAL RESULTS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The UTEP track and field team completed its second full meet of the season as UTEP newcomer Niesha Burgher set a school record in the 200-meter dash at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Miners posted no. 1 rankings in six events on the Conference USA performance list following the meet.

"I think it was a good second meet for both our women's and men's teams. It was a short turnaround from our first meet considering that Monday was a holiday and we only got three full days of practice leading up to this event," UTEP Head Coach Mika Laaksonen said. "The women's team outdid the men's team this time around by setting 13 new personal records today and only one of them came in event that the individual had not competed in before. The men were close with 12 new personal bests, but seven of those came in events that the student-athletes competed in for the first time in UTEP uniform. The teams will get a well-deserved bye week now and we come back to Albuquerque for UNM Collegiate Invitational February 3 -4. I'm excited to see what we can accomplish then after an intense 10-day practice cycle."

FULL RESULTS.

Burgher clocked in a program-record 23.20 in the 200-meter dash. Her previous best was 23.79 at last week's Texas Tech Corky Classic. Burgher ranks no. 1 in C-USA and eighth nationally with her performance.

Burgher competed in her first 60-meter dash at UTEP, clocking in a 7.41 in the prelims. She followed with a personal and C-USA-best 7.31 in the finals to place fifth. Her previous best was a 7.70 while at Western Texas College last season.

Yusuf Mohamud took second in the 800-meter race, clocking in a personal-best 1:51.16. Mohamud made a big leap from his previous time of 1:57.99 at the Don Kirby Open & Elite last February. His time ranks no. 1 in Conference USA.

Kenneth Talavera won the mile, clocking in a 4:12.33. It was Talavera's third career victory in the mile event after posting a pair of first place finishes last season. Talavera's time ranks no. 1 in C-USA.

Loubna Benhadja clocked in a personal-best 55.04 in the 400-meter dash. Her previous best was 55.06 last season. Benhadja ranks no. 1 in C-USA, topping Oghenekaro Brume's time of 55.05, which ranked no. 1 in C-USA last week.

Daniel Bernal placed second in the 3000-meter race, turning in a time of 8:34.14. His time ranks third in C-USA.

Ruth Jerubet placed second in the mile race, posting a 5:02.47.

Denae McFarlane set a PR with a time of 24.45 in the 200-meter dash unseeded event and placed sixth. Her previous best was a 24.64 last season.

Marisa Simpson clocked in a 24.21 in the 200-meter dash, ranking fourth in C-USA. It was Simpson's first ever indoor 200m event.

Current UTEP football player Atiq Muhammad competed on his first long jump, posting a mark of 7.15m (23-5.50), while also competing in the 60-meter dash.

The women's 4x400-meter relay squad of Benhadja, Simpson, Burgher and Brume clocked in a season-best 3:43.55 and placing fifth overall. The Miners placed first in section two. The time topped last week's 3:45.60 and ranks no. 1 in C-USA.

The meet concluded with the men's 4x400 team composed of Griffiths, Mathew Polk, Stephen Carreto and Abdulraof Rashid clocked in a 3:16.15, ranking second in C-USA.

UP NEXT
The Miners will return to action in Albuquerque at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic on Feb. 3-4. Following that meet, UTEP will make a third trip up the road to Albuquerque to compete at the Don Kirby Invitational on Feb. 11-12 before the C-USA Championships on Feb. 18-19.

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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