Miners Gather Five More Victories on Final Day at Willie Williams Saturday

3/25/2023 8:40:00 PM

TUCSON, Ariz. – UTEP racked up another five victories while achieving top conference performances and setting personal bests on the final day of competition at the Willie Williams Classic in Roy P. Drachman Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Miners registered victories in 10 total events during the two-day meet to open the outdoor campaign.

"This was a pretty good opening weekend for us. Yesterday evening's subpar weather did not help our distance runners to achieve special times, but we still competed hard," UTEP Head Coach Mika Laaksonen said. "Today's conditions were excellent and definitely helped us to perform better as a team. Both squads achieved a little over twenty new personal bests in total which is not a bad way to open the season."

The women's 4x100-meter relay team made a big splash in its season debut, as Zani Meaders, Niesha Burgher, Denae McFarlane, and Oghenekaro Brume clocked in a 44.31 for a first-place showing. Their time ranks no. 1 in Conference USA and no. 4 nationally early in the season, while it also ranks no. 2 on the program's top-10 list.

The men's 4x100-meter relay team also turned in a strong effort, placing third. Jordani Woodley, Karon Dean, Jalen Cadet, and Dennis Johnson clocked in a 39.88, which ranks no. 1 in C-USA and 11^th nationally.

Woodley captured first place in the men's 110-meter hurdles, posting a time of 14.07 (-1.3). His time ranks second in C-USA.

Dean won the men's 100-meter dash, clocking in a personal-best 10.33 (0.9). His previous best was 10.39 (1.2) at the 2022 C-USA Championships. His time ranks fifth in C-USA and 22^nd nationally.

McFarlane placed second in the women's 100m, clocking in a personal-best 11.48 (0.8). Her time ranks no. 1 in C-USA and 20^th nationally, while it surpasses her previous best of 11.52 (1.4) at the 2021 conference championships.

Marisa Simpson took third in the women's 100-meter hurdles, clocking in a personal-best 13.49 (0.9). Simpson ranks first in C-USA and 21^st nationally. Her previous best was a 13.84 (1.6) at last year's C-USA Championships.

Niesha Burgher and Zani Meaders clocked in solid efforts in their first 400-meter event as Miners. The pair of transfers set their collegiate career bests on Saturday. Burgher ran a 54.56, improving from a 57.95 while competing at Western Texas College. Meaders posted a 54.80, improving from 55.00 while at UC Irvine in 2019. Burgher ranks third, while Meaders comes in at fourth in C-USA with their times.

Yusuf Muhammad won the men's 800-meter race, clocking in a personal-best 1:51.62. His previous best was a 1:52.56 at the 2022 Bryan Clay. Maxwell Kipkosgei placed third with a time of 1:52.82. Muhammad's time ranks third, while Kipkosgei ranks sixth in conference.

Julio Pacheco Estrada, competing in his first outdoor 400-meter race, finished in second with a time of 46.74. His time ranks first in C-USA and 17^th nationally.

Joshua Hill ran a 47.67 in the 400m as his time ranks fourth in C-USA.

The women capped the meet with another first-place finish, this time in the 4x400-meter relay. The team of Meaders, Loubna Benhadja, Brume and Burgher clocked in a 3:38.65. Their time ranks no. 2 in C-USA.

The men's 4x400-meter relay team came in with a second-place showing. The squad of Pacheco Estrada, Stephen Carreto, Hill, and Woodley clocked in a 3:14.18, which ranks second in C-USA.

"I think we got five to seven individuals who would qualify to the NCAA first round competition already as well as two to three of our four outdoor relay teams. Roosa, Loubna, Marissa, Denae, Zani, Karo and Niesha all stood out from the women's side. Jakub, Jordani and Karon were responsible for the best performances on the men's side."

After yesterday's results, Roosa Yloenen ranks second in C-USA and 11^th nationally in the women's javelin (51.40m – 168-8), while Jakub Belik ranks first in C-USA and 16^th nationally in the men's high jump (2.10m – 6-10.75).

FINAL RESULTS | C-USA PERFORMANCE LIST: MEN | WOMEN

UP NEXT
UTEP will head up the road to Albuquerque to compete at the New Mexico Spring Invitational on Thursday, April 6.

2023 UTEP OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE
Mar. 24-25      Willie Williams Classic                                                             Tucson, Ariz.
Apr. 6              New Mexico Spring Invitational                                             Albuquerque, N.M.
Apr. 12-15       Mt. SAC Relays                                                                        Walnut, Calif.
Apr. 13-15       Bryan Clay Classic                                                                  Azusa, Calif.
Apr. 20            Don Kirby Tailwind Open                                                        Albuquerque, N.M.
Apr. 29            Desert Heat Classic                                                                 Tucson, Ariz.
May 11-14       C-USA OTF Championships                                                     Denton, Texas
May 24-27       NCAA OTF Championships First Round                                  Sacramento, Calif.

Jun. 7-10 NCAA OTF Championships Austin, Texas

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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