For Immediate Release: April 27, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media
Relations, (956) 381-2240
DES MOINES, IA–It was another
record-breaking performance for sophomore Valerie Partch (Smithville,
MO/Smithville HS) at the Drake Relays Saturday.
Partch finished sixth in the jump with a
successful leap of 5-8 ¾, breaking her own school record.
Sophomore hurdler Rashaad Ben (Austin,
TX/Sidney Lanier HS) finished eighth in the 110 meter high hurdles. Ben’s race
was contested in rainy, windy conditions. Sophomore throwers Amy Moses
(Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) and Isaac Ybarra (Edinburg, TX/Sharyland HS),
UTPA’s other throwers, did not make the finals in their events.
“Valerie continues to jump very well,”
said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. “She beat a lot of big time athletes.
Rashaad’s time wasn’t really great, but considering the fact that
temperature was in the 40s, it was raining and there was a strong head wind, he
ran very well. Sometimes, it’s not how fast you run, but where you finish, and
that was the way it was today. “
“I was very pleased with the way Rashaad
and Valerie performed,” said Vaughn. “They did very well, and brought a lot
of attention to our university, which is one of the reasons we go to these
meets.“
At the Rice/RunSport Twilight Meet, several UTPA athletes turned in strong performances.
Sophomore Patty Villarreal (San Juan, TX/PSJA HS) was third at 5000 meters. Her time was a personal best of 19:41.39. Senior Lovie Mathis (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro HS/Central Arizona College) was fifth in the triple jump. Junior Robert Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS/UTEP) was second in the hammer throw, and freshman Marlin Manley (Hampton, VA/Bethel HS) was third in the high jump at 6-8.
UTPA will compete at the Texas
Invitational next weekend.