2015 Spring Invitational: Results

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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV track & field team recorded nine victories on the second and final day at its Spring Invitational and Sheila Tarr-Smith Multis Saturday at Myron Partridge Stadium. In all, the Scarlet & Gray notched 28 top-three finishes, including Cortney Miller's (Las Vegas/Calvary Chapel Christian HS) second-place showing in the hammer Friday.

"This was a great early season meet for the Rebels and it gave us the chance to recognize our seniors," said head coach Yvonne Wade. "We had a lot of great performances by our student-athletes and it was exciting to have so many track enthusiasts come out to support us. The competition was great, the crowd was great and the sun was shining. You can't ask for any more than that!"

One day after seeing Miller improve her hammer throw distance towards her third-place standing in the program's outdoor all-time performance list, the Rebels' MacKenna Howard penciled her name in the shot put category with a toss that measured 51-5 (15.67m). Not only did Howard win the shot put, but she also took first-place honors in the discus (143-3/43.67m) and was sixth in the javelin (94-6/28.80m).

Joining Howard in both events was Vanessa Sierra, who was second in the discus (139-8/42.59m) and third in the shot put (41-10/12.75m).

On the track, UNLV took both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. The former, which was comprised of Monay Meggs, Destiny Smith-Barnett, Taylor Pegram and Drea Austin (Las Vegas/Foothill HS), ran a time of 46.02 with a foursome of Micayla Coquia (Las Vegas/Legacy HS), Laura Anuakpado, Jordan Smith and Kenia Bonilla finishing in third (46.70). The winning 4x400m relay consisted of Anuakpado, Meggs, Bonilla and Mandy Chitwood (Las Vegas/Canyon Springs HS).

Many of those that were a part of a relay squad did well as individuals, too. Austin was first in the 100m (12.12) and second in the 200m (24.12). Smith-Barnett won the 200m (23.77), while Meggs was third (24.41). Coquia took fourth in both the 100m (12.37) and 200m (24.96). Bonilla was third in the 100m (12.32), while Anuakpado and Chitwood were second (55.64) and fifth (57.51) in the 400m, respectively.

Pegram claimed the top spot in the 100m hurdles (13.77) and was fifth in the 100m (12.39). Following her in the hurdles were Ke'Nya Hardge in second (13.91), Joniece Ervin in third (14.09) and Jordan Hardy in eighth (15.00). The 400m hurdles produced a third-place finish from Janeek Mollique (1:04.44), who was followed by Erin Bowers in seventh (1:06.03) and Ervin in eighth (1:06.25).

In the middle- and long-distance events, Spencer Moore had the best display with a first-place outing in the 1500m (4:34.33). Miranda Menzies was third in the 800m (2:15.14), while Vannessa Martinez finished in the same slot in the 5000m (17:45.60). Auzsane Crowe-Carter was also third in the 1500m (4:38.26).

Krystal Wharton (Las Vegas/Valley HS) led the jumpers with a first-place finish in the long jump (18-10/5.74m), while teammate Akia Armstrong was second with a leap of 18-9.75 (5.73m). Brooklyn McAlpin paced the high jumpers with a second-place finish (5-5/1.65m. Madison Johonnot (Las Vegas/Centennial HS) and Jazmyne Bartee were third in the event with identical 5-3 (1.60m) marks.

Kylee Vandenberg and Amari Norris (Las Vegas/Silverado HS) finished in second and third, respectively, in the heptathlon. The former totaled 4,838 points to the latter's 4,370.

The Rebels hit the road for their first outdoor meet away from Las Vegas next weekend with a jaunt to the Lone Star State. UNLV will participate in the Texas Relays, which are scheduled for March 26-28 in Austin.