April 19, 2001

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Storyline: The UNLV track and field team returns to the road this week for one of the largest track and field meets in the country, the Mt. San Antonio College (SAC) Relays in Walnut, Calif. The three-day meet begins on Friday, April 20 and lasts until Sunday, April 22. More than 100 college teams and track clubs from all over the country are expected to attend. Results should be available online at www.unlvrebels.com or ibm.mtsac.edu/relays.

UNLV: The Rebels should get two key members back to the squad this week in distance runners Katie Barto and Jenni Lopez. Both have been banged up, but look to benefit from the top-level competition at Mt. SAC. The rest of the squad finished fifth in its last outing. Freshman Christine Spence earned MWC Athlete of the Week honors after winning the high jump with a personal best 5-08.50 and taking second in the 400 hurdles in 1:01.20. She ranks fourth in the league in both events. Nickeisha Charles improved her best in the 400 meters, clocking 55.33 and finishing second. Her time ranks second in the conference.

Noteworthy: Katie Barto broke the school record and provisionally qualified in the 5,000 meters, running 16:39.95 at the Stanford Invitational ... Barto also ranks second in the MWC in the 1,500m and posted a UNLV top five mark in that event ... Tiffany Smith's season best in the triple jump of 39-09.75 ranks fifth in school history ... Tianika Sharrieff won three straight high jump competitions to open the season, clearing 5-08.75 in each win. That ranks her third in the MWC ... As the first Rebel freshman to record a mark in the pole vault, Amber Baker set the UNLV freshman record in San Diego, clearing 8-06.75.

Up Next: Following the Mt. SAC Relays, the Rebels head to Irvine, Calif., for the Cal-Nevada Championships on April 28-29.