Jacquilyn Orozco/UTEP Athletics

Mohamud, Talavera Post Victories on Final Day at the UNM Collegiate Classic

2/4/2023 5:48:00 PM

MEET RESULTS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Yusuf Mohamud and Kenneth Talavera continued UTEP's success in the indoor distance events this season as the pair notched victories in their respective events, while multiple Miners set personal bests on the final day at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday afternoon.

"Both the men and women tallied up 10 new personal bests per team. We made some progress again this weekend, even though it would have been nice to see field event athletes take bigger strides forward here," UTEP Head Coach Mika Laaksonen said. "We had a couple close calls on the injury front, but I believe those athletes will be at full strength again next week. We will come back to Albuquerque next weekend for the final tune up before the conference championships that are only a few weeks away."

Talavera clocked in a season-best 4:03.26@ (converted from a 4:08.67 for altitude), winning his second mile race of the season and third of his career. Talavera currently ranks first in Conference USA.

Mohamud won his first career indoor 800-meter race, clocking in a 1:51.22. Mohamud currently ranks third in C-USA with a 1:50.54@ (converted from a 1:51.16 for altitude). He ranks behind teammate Talavera (1:49.39@ - converted from 1:50.00 for altitude) and Charlotte's Zach Beale (1:49.25# - converted from 1:50.81 for track size).

The UTEP distance runners posted four victories during the two-day meet as Daniel Bernal and Ruth Jerubet won their 3000-meter events on Friday evening.

Loubna Benhadja clocked in a personal-best 55.01 in the 400-meter dash. The sophomore sensation ranks no. 2 in C-USA behind Charlotte's Maya Singletary (54.04).

Jordani Woodley posted a personal-best 7.80 in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries. His time ranks third in C-USA. He ranks behind UTSA's Bashiru Abdullahi (7.77) and Charlotte's Justin Leaston (7.72).

The C-USA no. 1-ranked 4x400 women's relay team (Benhadja, Niesha Burgher, Carshaylah Harrison, Oghenekaro Brume) turned a season-best 3:41.40. The previous best was 3:43.55 at the MLK on Jan. 21.

The men's squad (Julio Pacheco, Karon Dean, Abdulraof Rashid, Joshua Hill) clocked in a season-best 3:12.62, which beats out UTSA's 3:13.64 for no. 2 on the C-USA performance list. Charlotte leads conference with a 3:10.81.

UP NEXT
The Miners will have a final tune up before conference championships at the Don Kirby Invitational on Feb. 10-11 in Albuquerque. The C-USA Championships will follow 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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