Jan. 21, 2017 Lumberjack Team Challenge Results
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV track & field program kicked off its indoor season with victories in six events Saturday at Northern Arizona's Lumberjack Team Challenge. The Rebels got wins from Destiny Smith-Barnett (60m), Najia Hudspeth (200m), Kaysee Pilgrim (high jump), Ayana Gales (long jump), Danielle Williams (triple jump) as well as Taylor Pegram (60m hurdles). Not only did Pegram finish first in her event but she did so in record-setting fashion with a program-best time of 8.31 inside the Walkup Skydome.
Additionally, Amari Norris finished third in the 60m hurdles in 8.44 -- a personal best -- and it ranks as the fourth-best indoor performance in program lore. Norris also ran in the 200m and finished sixth in time of 25.42, also a personal best.
"I am pleased with the opening meet for much of the team," said head coach Yvonne Wade. "So many of them have never been to an indoor meet in their respective events, and they did well. We still have work to do, but it's the first step to getting where we need to go."
Overall, the Scarlet & Gray claimed 31 top-eight finishes with five apiece coming in the 60m and 200m races. UNLV participated against student-athletes from Cal State Fullerton, CSU Bakersfield, UC Irvine, Southern Utah and host NAU.
"The 60m hurdles was the highlight for us today. The Rebels ran very well as a unit and assistant coach Larry Wade did an amazing job preparing them to compete."
Smith-Barnett, who missed the 2015 indoor season due to injury, finished first in a time of 7.40 while teammate Drea Austin came in second in a personal-best time of 7.45. The latter also took second in the 200m (24.50).
Gales claimed the top spot in the long jump with a distance of 19-5.50 (5.93m) and later finished sixth in the 60m in a personal-best time of 7.65.
Newcomers Najia and Nylia Hudspeth made their Rebel debuts memorable ones with wins in the 200m (24.47) and 400m (57.15), respectively. The latter also competed in the 200m and finished eighth overall in 25.57.
In a bit of coincidence, Pilgrim's high jump triumph came one day shy of the one-year anniversary of her breaking UNLV's indoor mark in the event which was at a NAU-hosted meet. This time, the Rebel jumped 5-7 (1.70m) to finish first Saturday.
Williams, a transfer from Missouri, jumped 36-6.25 (11.13m) to claim the triple jump albeit with a short approach in her first meet as a Rebel.
Vanessa Sierra represented the throwers in the shot put and weight throw with second-place (46-0/14.02m) and fifth-place (54-2/16.51m) finishes, respectively.
