UTEP T&F Concludes the Sun City Classic With 25 Personal Bests, Multiple Podium Finishes Saturday

4/11/2026 11:32:00 PM

EL PASO – The UTEP track and field team hosted the Sun City Classic to close out the home portion of the schedule, as 25 personal bests were recorded in Larry K. Durham Track at Kidd Field on a cloudy and breezy Saturday.

The relay teams concluded the meet with a pair of season bests. The men's 4x400-meter relay team, comprised of Joshua Ford, Amari Taylor, Kalix Robinson and Sebastian Avena, clocked in a time of 3:15.38. In the women's 4x100, Cydni Martin, Juantai-Shay Williams, Londyn Colon and Addison Stricklin turned in a 44.97 and first-place finish.

"It was a great day for our program and a strong way to close out our home meet. We had 25 personal best performances, which really speaks to the progress our group is making and the consistency of the work they're putting in every day. It was great to see that translate into competition across multiple event areas," first-year UTEP head coach Francesca Green said. "Elias Munoz had an outstanding performance, leading the way with two big personal bests in the 100 meters (10.27) and the 200 meters (20.86). That's a big-time day and a reflection of his preparation, focus, and belief in what he's capable of. Addison Strickland also had a great day, running on our season-best 4x100 relay (44.97), along with a strong personal best in the 100 meters (11.67) and a great run in the 200 meters (23.89). Those are impactful performances that continue to move us forward."

Williams clocked in a personal-best 24.01 (1.8) in the women's 200-meter dash, finishing third, and recorded a PR 11.70 (0.8) in the women's 100.

Elias Munoz also set a pair of personal bests, as the El Paso product clocked in a 10.27 (1.6) in the 100, and a 20.86 (2.9) in the 200. The freshman forged two first-place finishes in the process. Munoz was ranked ninth in the 200 and sixth in the 100 entering Saturday's meet.

Stricklin clocked in a personal-best 11.67 (0.8) in the women's 100 and finished second. She also finished second in the 200 with a time of 23.89.

Martin competed in her first collegiate 100, turning in an 11.70 (0.8) and placing third. The freshman also finished second in the women's 100 hurdles with a time of 13.66. Former UTEP hurdler Marissa Simpson won the event with a 13.38. Martin entered the weekend ranked first in CUSA in the 100H (13.52).

Kalix Robinson clocked in a personal-best 54.04 in the men's 400H and finished second.

Juan Leal was second in the men's 800 with a personal-best time of 1:52.84.

Multiple Miners fashioned first-place finishes. Senior and El Paso native Zacarias Velasquez won the men's long jump with a 7.00-meter (22-11.75) leap. Amir Williams was first in the men's 110-meter hurdles with a 14.33 (0.9). Amai Newman crossed the finish line first in the women's 400-meter dash with a 55.76. El Paso native Sarah Dovenbarger was champion in the women's pole vault with a 3.51-meter (11-6.25) leap. Peace Ewa won the women's high jump with a 1.70-meter (5-7) leap. Vallary Kiplagat was first in the women's 5000 with an 18:44.01.

Other PRs included Elijah Ebow-Renich in the women's javelin (26.94m) and 100H (15.10). Oleksandr Blonskyi did so in the men's discus (29.45m) and 400 (50.99). Braela Sargent (20.30m, women's javelin; 1.45m, high jump), Bobbi Guillen (5:30.02, women's 1500), Kayden Gibson (14.77, men's 110H), Grace Culver (14.00, women's 100H), Taylor (48.64, men's 400), Joseph Gomez Whitten (10.53, men's 100), Williams (10.70, men's 100), Colon (11.70, women's 100), Salma Licon (18:46.81, women's 5000), Isabella Campa (2:31.09, women's 800), Cailee Phillips (1:05.74, women's 400H), and Luke Cerda (34.05m, men's javelin throw) also set career marks and times.

Samahri Foster had a second-place finish in the women's 400 hurdles (1:02.63), and Andrea Castillo was second in the women's 800 (2:24.35). Oghenekaro Brume was second in the women's 400 (56.67). Taylor was second in the men's 200 (21.18).

Israel Quintana (15:57.98) and Matthew Guerra (16:22.14) finished second and third in the 5000, respectively. Former Miner Kenneth Talavera won the men's 5000 (15:56.34).

Elijah Munoz was third in the men's javelin throw (53.74m), and Deondre McIntosh was third in the men's 200 (21.26).

"Overall, I'm really proud of how our team showed up, competed with purpose, and continued to push their limits. This meet was another step forward for us—not just in performances, but in mindset, execution, and learning how to compete at a high level," Green said. "I also want to give a huge thank you to everyone who came out to support and to all those who helped make this meet possible. From our athletics staff to our coaching staff, to the volunteers and community members—we truly appreciate the time and effort that went into creating this environment. It means a lot to our program and our student-athletes to compete in front of that kind of support. We're going to continue building on this momentum as we move forward and stay focused on preparing for championship season."

2026 SUN CITY CLASSIC INFORMATION
FINAL RESULTS

UP NEXT
UTEP will compete at a pair of meets in California. The Miners will see action at the Bryan Clay Invitational (April 15-17), the Pacific Coast Invitational (April 16) and the Beach Invitational (April 17).

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