ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV track & field program claimed the 2020 Mountain West Indoor Championship behind a staggering 115-point performance backed by 18 top-eight finishes on the third and final day of the conference meet held at the Albuquerque Convention Center. More impressively, the Rebels claimed victory in six events en route to their second indoor crown in three seasons.
 
By virtue of winning the 2020 team title, Rebel head coach Yvonne Wade was named the MW's Women's Coach of the Year for the third time in her career, having previously been recognized in 2017 and 2018.
 
The Scarlet & Gray's Cassondra Hall claimed the MW's Female Outstanding Performer of the Meet after she won both the 60m (7.27) and 200m (23.42), and helped the 4x400m relay to a runner-up finish in 3:37.03. More impressively, all three times rank in the top five of their respective events in UNLV's All-Time Indoor Performance List, with the 200m time sitting second, while the 60m and 4x400m times are both third.
 
UNLV's Jada Hicks not only won the 60m hurdles, but she did so in record-setting fashion, breaking the school record in a time of 8.18. Moreover, Hicks' time ranks third in MW Indoor Championship lore and fourth in MW history.
 
Avi'Tal Wilson-Perteete defended her first-place performance in the 800m from one year ago by claiming another title in the event with a time of 2:06.80. Wilson-Perteete has now finished in the top two each of the past three years, after posting a runner-up showing as a freshman in 2018.
 
Jonon Young, who won the long jump Friday with a personal-best mark of 19-10.75 (6.06m), picked up her second individual championship Saturday, winning the triple jump in a distance of 41-11.25 (12.78m).   
 
Hall was joined by Amari Prude, Kaysha Love and Wilson-Perteete in the runner-up finish by the 4x400m relay. In addition to the eight points scored by the relay quartet, individually they combined to produce 41 points. Prude chipped in three points as a member of the Distance Medley Relay squad that took sixth Thursday. Love added 11 points with her third- and fourth-place finishes in the 60m (7.48) and 200m (23.76), respectively.
 
QUOTABLE: "I am so extremely proud of our team," said Wade. "We came with a crew that was focused from the very beginning on going for that trophy and they really stepped up. Every single one of these women scored a point either in an individual event or a relay. They earned their spots in the finals and on that podium which, ultimately, got us the win. My assistant coaches really stepped up and every event handled their business. I am overjoyed."
 
FINAL STANDINGS: UNLV (161 points) claimed the team title with 161 points. San Diego State was second (126.5), while Colorado State was third (108.5). New Mexico (70.5), Boise State (48), Air Force (43), San Jose State (37), UNR (33.5), Wyoming (18), Utah State (nine) and Fresno State (eight) rounded out fourth through 11th place, respectively.
 
NOTES:
-UNLV scored 28 points in the 60m with Hall (first/10 points), DeAndra Greer (second/8), Love (third/6) and Tianna Randle (fifth/4).
-UNLV's sweep of the 60m was the first instance any program had claimed all three podium spots in the event in MW Championships history.
-UNLV scored 20 points in the 800m with Wilson-Perteete (first/10), Agnes Mansaray (second/8) and Elisa Rovere (seventh/2).
-Mansaray's time of 2:08.31 in the 800m was a personal best.
-UNLV scored 12 points in the shot put with Mackenna Howard (second/8) and Cassidy Osborne-Butler (fifth/4).
-Jazlynn Shearer scored a total of 14 points at the MW Indoors, with six of those coming Saturday: triple jump (fourth/5) and 60m hurdles (eighth/1).
-Jartierra Grissom finished fifth in the high jump behind a personal-best mark of 5-7.75 (1.72m).
 
SILVER STATE SERIES UPDATE: UNLV claims the three points awarded for the sport in the standings towards 2019-20 Silver State Series, the all-encompassing athletic and academic competition sponsored by IBEW Local 401 and Nevada Donor Network between the Rebels and UNR Wolf Pack. To date, the Rebels lead the Wolf Pack, 12-9.