COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word track and field teams opened their 2018 season with strong performances at the Ted Nelson Invitational. Both the men and women finished fourth, and produced impressive opening times to kickoff indoor competition.
LEADERS
Standout performer,
Tiffani Mays, outlasted competitors to win the women's 400m as she crossed the line in 56.95 for a new PR in the event indoors.
Jerica Love started the season off in full force in the 60H with a record breaking time of 8.49 for second place. Her previous record, 8.50, earned her third place at the conference championships last season.
Sarea Alexander placed second in the long jump behind Jasmyn Steels from Northwestern State. The jumping specialist posted a leap of 5.93m/19-5.5 which surpasses the mark that earned her first place (5.91/19-4.75) at the indoor championships in 2016. She finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 12.07m/39-7.25.
Dominique Allen was runner up in the 800m with a time of 2:16.17
Freshman
Amiah Parson cleared 1.67m/5-5.75 in the high jump to take seventh.
Sophomore sprinter
Deja Keys ran a collegiate best opening time of 25.10 in the 200m to finish seventh.
Erekha Sebastion opened her campaign with a 25.11 to place eighth.
On the men's side,
Clinton Cole set the tone for the men's team early on as he qualified for finals in the 60m. The junior sprinter went on to run 6.85 to finish fourth. He placed fifth in the 200m with a solid time of 21.62.
Garett Cortez recorded a new PR in the mile, 4:15.25, to place second. Teammate
Deion Hardy finished third with a 4:15.34.
Wiley Saavedra started the season on a good note as he set a new indoor PR in the pole vault. He cleared a height of 4.57m/ 15-0 and tied for fourth place.
Jamari Gilbert had a solid run in the 400m. He posted a time of 49.28 for seventh place.
Jordan Cherin crossed the line in 1:56.22 in the 800m for a new indoor PR and fourth place finish.
Cesar Moreno claimed a heat victory in the 3000. He finished seventh overall with a season-opening best time of 8:54.00.
QUOTES
Head Coach Derek Riedel on the start to the season:
"I'm pleased with our overall team performances today. The first meet of the year is always a mixed bag. It's an opportunity to assess where we are at coming off the break and see what we need to improve moving forward. For us being at about 60% full capacity in terms of who we brought and health wise we finished very well as a team. We stayed mostly healthy and we had some big PRs. I believe this was our best season opening meet since we moved to D1."
COMING UP
The Cardinals will travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to compete on Friday, Jan. 19 at the New Mexico Cherry and Silver Invitational.
STAY TUNED
UIW track and field will take a trip to Lubbock, Texas, for the Texas Tech Invitational. Action is scheduled to take place on Jan. 26-27 at the Sports Performance Center.
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.
