ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV track & field program returned to the Albuquerque Convention Center for the second straight week and came away with an impressive showing on the first day of New Mexico's Don Kirby Invitational. The Rebels posted six top-eight finishes with
Mackenna Howard's fifth-place showing in the weight throw pacing the results.
Howard's throw of 63-0 (19.20m) was not only good enough for fifth place, but it was a personal best and the fourth-best performance recorded in UNLV indoor history.
The Scarlet & Gray saw five of its own place in the top 33 of a loaded 200m, which featured 129 entrants.
Destiny Smith-Barnett ran the 200m for the first time this season and came away with a seventh-place showing in a personal-best time of 23.81.
Kaysha Love and
Najia Hudspeth took ninth (23.89 PB) and 12th (24.05 PB), respectively, while
Jada Hicks as 24th (24.60) and Emerald Bowen was 33rd (24.77 PB).
In the long jump,
Jasmyne Graham was seventh overall (19-5.50/5.93m), while
Jonon Young was eighth (19-1.25/5.82m).
The Rebels got a strong showing from three freshmen in the 400m;
Gizelle Reid was eighth (56.83), while Amari Prude was 13th (56.98 PB) and
Alexis Surrell was 24th (57.64 PB).
The squad returns to day two of the Invitational with the shot put and triple jump as well as the 400m, 800m, 4x400m relay and qualifying and preliminary rounds of the 60m and 60m hurdles, respectively.
The meet features 27 collegiate squads, including Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State as well as UNLV and host UNM. Additionally, four programs enter the weekend ranked nationally by the USTFCCCA, as UNM is eighth overall, while No. 6 Oregon, No. 17 Stanford and No. 30 UCLA round out the quartet.
HUSKY CLASSIC UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, UNLV's participation in Washington's Husky Classic was cut short due to an impending snowstorm in Seattle. The Rebels only got to race in the 800m, with
Elisa Rovere taking 15th (2:11.42) and
Kara Smith coming in 22nd (2:17.24 PB); however, the remainder of the events they were entered in were cancelled with the rest of Saturday's slate.
ALL-COMERS MEET: The UNLV track & field program will host its second All-Comers Meets at Myron Partridge Stadium & Sheila Tarr-Smith Field on Feb. 16. Participants (open to the public) can enter the meet for $5 for one event or $10 for two or more. Spectators are $5. Action begins at 9:30 am with the shot put and concludes at 12:50 pm with the 4x400m relay.
