UTEP’s Women’s 4x100 Relay Team Sets School Record at Arizona’s Desert Heat Classic Saturday Evening

5/3/2025 11:53:00 PM

TUCSON, Ariz. – UTEP track and field's women's 4x100-meter relay team clocked in a school-record 43.72 to headline the meet for the Miners at Arizona's Desert Heat Classic at Roy P. Drachman Stadium on Saturday evening.

The quartet of Addison Stricklin, Denae McFarlane, Marissa Simpson and Rejoice Sule clocked in a new school-record time of 43.72 in the women's 4x100-meter relay. The Miners were first of 11 teams, beating out Oregon (43.87), Utah (44.02) and Arizona (44.17). The previous school record was 43.95 in 2008 (Quashanda Welch, Halimat Ismaila, Shalaiyah Sommerville, Blessing Okagbare). The Miners remain ranked first in CUSA.

Loubna Benhadja clocked in a personal-best time of 57.27 in the women's 400-meter hurdles. The senior finished third out of 31 competitors. Her best time previously was 57.49 at last year's NCAA West First Round. Benhaja's time ranks second in program history.

Stephen Carreto clocked in a personal-best 52.37 in the men's 400-meter hurdles. The senior's best time before was 52.40, set at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate a few weeks ago. Carreto ranks fifth in CUSA.

Sule turned in a personal-best time of 23.14 (1.3) in the women's 200-meter dash. The sophomore sensation finished third of 61 runners. Sule ranks fifth on the program's all-time list, beating Blessing Okagbare's time of 23.23 in 2010. Sule's new time is tied with Liberty's Reese Webster. Sule had clocked in a 23.18 (3.1) at last week's Don Kirby Tailwind Twilight and ranked second in CUSA.

Simpson also posted a personal best in the 200, clocking in a 23.31 (1.3) and finishing sixth overall. Simpson was ranked fourth in CUSA, as her new time will move into the top three in the league. The senior's previous best time was 23.39 (0.2) at the Sun City Classic.

Stricklin clocked in a personal-best 24.06 (1.0) in the 200. Her previous best time was 24.07. The freshman ranks 13^th in CUSA.

Jordani Woodley clocked in a season-best time of 13.61 (2.4) in the men's 110-meter hurdles and finished fourth out of 33 competitors. The senior came into the weekend ranked fourth in the Conference USA 110 hurdles and would move up to second with his new time. Arizona's Zachary Extine won the event with a 13.17 (2.4).

Princess Uche clocked in a season-best 54.02 in the women's 400-meter dash, placing 12^th of 42 runners. Uche's previous season best was 54.08, ranked seventh in CUSA.

The women's 4x400-meter relay team, comprised of Uche, Sule, Chinique Brown and Benhadja, clocked in a season-best 3:37.56. The Miners finished third overall of 15 teams. UTEP is ranked second in CUSA with its previous season best time of 3:39.89.

Praise Djoma, in her first outdoor long jump event, leaped 5.73 meters (18-9.75). Djoma's mark would rank in the top six in CUSA. Her personal best is 5.98 meters (19-7.5) while competing at LSU last season.

Jakub Belik, CUSA's leading men's high jumper, finished second in the high jump at 2.11 meters (6-11). Belik leads CUSA at 2.18 meters (7-1.75) and ranks tied for 15^th nationally.

DESERT HEAT CLASSIC INFORMATION
Final Results

UP NEXT
Miners will prepare for the 2025 Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 16-18, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., at Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium.

2025 UTEP INDOOR/OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE

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