Miners Run the Show at Don Kirby Tailwind

The UTEP track and field team dominated the competition at the 2014 Don Kirby Tailwind as the Miners clinched 12 crowns.

In their last meet before the Conference USA Outdoor Championships, the Orange and Blue was led by Janice Jackson. The All-American garnered two gold-medal finishes in the 100m hurdles and the 100m dash. The Conference USA Champion registered a season-best of 13.01 ranking her ninth nationally and first in C-USA. Teammate Bria Love followed in at second with a time of 14.03. Aeisha McDavid and Greta Kerekes rounded the top six finishers.

Jackson also took the top spot in the 100m dash with a time of 11.51, -0.2 garnering her the top spot in conference.

Newcomer Florence Uwakwe finished first in the 400m dash with a time of 51.94 placing her in the top five nationally and first in C-USA.

Freshman Aiyanna Stiverne gained the Miners yet another medal as she finished second in the 200m dash with 23.77, +2.7.The Florida native ranks sixth in conference.

Anna-Kay James also garnered a silver medal as she crossed the finish line in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:03.96

Claiming success for the men on the track was Reginald Hinson as he registered a time of 10.60 to place second in the 200m dash.

Sven Zellner, Roberto Camacho and Tommy McCoy represented the Miners in the hurdling events. Zellner earned gold in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.26 while Camacho also claimed gold in the 400m hurdles with a personal-best time of 51.37. Teammate McCoy also posted a personal-best in the 300m hurdles with a finish of 53.81.

On the distance side, Elkana Rotich garnered gold in both the 1,500m run and 3,000m run with 3:52.28 and 8:51.91 The senior’s times earned him C-USA recognition as he ranks fifth in the 3,000m and tenth in the 1,500m.

Trumphena Sum and Daniel Tarango wrapped up the meet for the distance squad as they each posted top-three finishes. Sum placed third in the women’s 1,500m run with a time of 5:02.11. Tarango took second in the men’s 800m run with a mark of 1:555.45.

On the field, Taylor Gunn claimed gold in the hammer throw with a personal-best toss of 53.15 (174-04) placing her fifth in C-USA. The junior continued her success as she rounded out the meet with a silver-medal finish in the discus throw. The thrower recorded a mark of 48.17 (158-00).

Enduring the Miners success was Fayon Gonzales, as she took gold in the javelin throw with a personal-best toss of 43.62m (143-01). The freshman’s performance places her at No. 4 in Conference USA.

Rounding out the UTEP throwers was Samantha Hall. The freshman finished second in the women’s shot put as she recorded a mark of 12.92m (42-04.75) on her third throw. Hall currently ranks 16th in league action.

In the high jump, the Miners earned a gold and silver medal finishes. For the men it was Carlos Hernandez who claimed the crown as he posted a leap of 2.11m (6-11), ranking him fourth in C-USA. Rahelys Barsey finished second in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.57m (5-01.75).

Mark Jackson led UTEP in the men’s triple jump as he posted a leap of 16.33m (53-07.00), +4.2. The All-American’s performance garnered him first place in the meet and in Conference USA.

In women’s triple jump it was Monica Lopez to declare success for the Miners. The El Paso native recorded a leap of 12.07m (39-07.25) to place second.

The Miners wrapped up the meet with silver and bronze-medal finishes in the long jump. All-American Nickevea Wilson finished second in the women’s long jump with a leap of 5.74m (18-10), +0.9, while freshman Zachary Newman led the men to a third-place finish with a mark of 6.83m (22-05.00), +2.5.

The Miners will have about two weeks to prepare for the Conference USA Outdoor Championships in Houston, Texas.