Jackson and Abinuwa Claim Crown in Nebraska

LINCOLN, NEBR. ? Senior Endurance Abinuwa clocked in two first-place finishes, while Janice Jackson clocked in the top time in the women?s 60m hurdles at the Frank Sevigne Husker invitational on Saturday.

?A lot of individuals made progress, especially on the women?s side,? said head coach Mika Laaksonen. ?We have a young team but everyone is improving their marks and making progress every week.?

Abinuwa took gold in the women?s 60m dash with a time of 7.45 and the 400m dash posting a time of 54.84. The All-American went on to lead the women?s 4x400m relay to a silver finish recording a time of 3:47.66 (Yolanda Suggs, Kitria Stewart, Mariah Bowers, Abinuwa).

Jackson was the top finisher in the women?s 60m hurdles registering the 43rd fastest time in the nation with a time of 8.49. The sophomore also holds the nations 41st fastest time for her performance at the Cherry and Silver Invitational.

?Janice is one of the individuals that continues to make progress every meet,? said Laaksonen.

Meanwhile on the women?s distance team, Jackline Ekai took sixth-place in the 800m run posting a season-best time of 2:17.04.

On the men?s side, junior Anthony Wright was the runner-up in the men?s 60m dash recording a time of 6.80.

Leading the men?s distance team is newcomer Anthony Rotich clocking in a time of 8:10.15 taking second-place in the 3,000m run. While El Paso native Juan Blanco crossed the finish line with a time of 8:34.74 in the 3,000m run.

Senior Justice Chirchir posted a season-best time in the men?s mile run with a time of 4:13.85 taking seventh-place overall.

The Miners will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station, Texas.

Source: UTEP Athletics