UTEP T&F Concludes First Outdoor Meet with Multiple PRs at Miners Invitational Saturday afternoon

3/21/2026 8:27:00 PM

FINAL RESULTS

EL PASO – The UTEP track and field team concluded its first outdoor meet of the season with six more personal-bests and eight first-place finishes at the Miners Invitational on a scorching Saturday afternoon at Larry K. Durham Track at Kidd Field.

With temperatures in the mid-90s, almost 800 fans came to cheer on the Miners and the other competing collegiate and high school programs during the two-day meet. It was the first UTEP-hosted meet in March since the 2019 campaign. The Sun City Classic is on April 11, making it the first time in nine years that UTEP will host a pair of home meets.

Overall on the weekend, the Miners turned in 13 personal-best times and marks and claimed 13 first-place finishes.

"It was a strong way to close out the Miners Invitational. We saw continued progress across the board with seven more personal bests, highlighted by Mathew Polk's 47.73 in the 400 meters. That's a big-time performance and a great sign of where he's headed this season," first-year UTEP Head Coach Francesca Green said. "We also had eight first-place finishes, which speaks to the level our group competed at throughout the weekend. I'm really proud of how our team showed up, competed with purpose, and continued to execute while working through heavy training."

A total of 20 Miners from El Paso had the opportunity to perform in front of the Miner faithful.

"I'm also very happy about hosting a meet here—it was a great weekend of track and field at Kidd Field, and a great opportunity for our community to be part of what we're building," Green said. "A huge thank you to our athletics staff and coaching staff for all the work that went into making this meet happen. We want to continue building upon hosting this home meet and grow it into something special year after year."

Oleksandr Blonskyi recorded a pair of PRs. The junior recorded a personal-best 4.80 meters (15-9) in the men's pole vault, while clocking in a personal-best time of 51.14 in the 400. Blonskyi won the pole vault event.

Senior Mathew Polk clocked in a personal-best 47.73 with a first-place finish in the men's 400-meter dash, smashing his prior best of 50.18.

Sophomore Andrea Castillo clocked in a personal-best 2:21.97 in the women's 800-meter event.

Freshman Jacob Yeager won his first collegiate 800 race, clocking in at 1:51.0.

In the men's 100-meter dash, freshman Elias Munoz won the race with a time of 10.44 (0.1), while sophomore Joseph Gomez Whitten (10.59 [0.1]) and senior Zacarius Velasquez (11.06 [0.1]) turned in personal-best times.

In the women's 100, freshman Londyn Colon placed second with an 11.90 (11.892), and sophomore Addison Stricklin placed third with a 11.90 (11.895).

Freshman Cydni Martin continued to impress in her first season, winning the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.83 (-0.9).

Freshman Amai Newman clocked in a 55.09, winning the women's 400-meter dash.

The day concluded with the women's and men's 4x400-meter relay teams winning their respective events.

Martin, freshman Madison Evans, sophomore Samahri Foster, and Newman won the women's relay with a time of 3:46.61.

On the men's side, Munoz, Polk, Gomez Whitten and sophomore Sebastian Avena posted a 3:16.64.

Sophomore Sarah Dovenbarger registered a mark of 3.36 meters (11-0.25), finishing second in the women's pole vault.

"This meet was about setting the foundation, and I think we took a big step forward. I'm looking forward to continuing to build upon what we accomplished this weekend as we move into the next phase of our outdoor season," Green said. "Next up for us is the Texas Relays, April 1–4, 2026, where we'll continue to raise our level of competition."

FINAL RESULTS

UP NEXT
UTEP will travel to Austin, Texas, to compete at the prestigious 98^th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on April 1-4, in Mike A. Meyers Stadium.

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