For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 25, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

MEN SIXTH, WOMEN EIGHTH IN OPENER

HOUSTON, TX-The first meet of the season was a successful one for The University of Texas-Pan American track and field team Saturday.

The Broncs finished sixth of 11 teams, while the Lady Broncs were eighth of 12 teams at the Houston Indoor Opener at the Yeoman Field House.

The men had 44 ½ points, a point and a half behind Texas A&M. Houston won the meet with 81 points. The women finished with 18 points, 10 ahead of South Alabama. Texas was first with 132 points.

Among the Lady Broncs, junior Amy Moses (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) was first in the weight throw at 56 feet, 10 inches, which broke the UTPA record. Freshman Margeaux McCarthy (Pharr, TX/PSJA North HS) finished sixth at 800 meters in 2:23.60, sophomore Patty Villarreal (San Juan, TX/PSJA HS) finished the 3000 meter run in 11:13, and sophomore Deneb DeLuna (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) was fifth in the shot put with a toss of 42 feet, 9 ½ inches and fourth in the weight throw at 48 feet, nine inches.

For the Broncs, junior Hugo Cervantes (Weslaco, TX/Weslaco HS/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) was second in the mile in a personal best time of 4:20.61, sophomore Westly Keating (Pharr, TX/PSJA North HS/Texas) was second at 3000 meters in 8:40.05, sophomores David Ramirez (Mission, TX/Waelther HS) and Americo Ortiz (Wortham, TX/Wortham HS) were third and fourth at 5000 meters in 16:39.94 and 17:00.65, respectively, sophomore Jeff Martzall (Fort Wayne, IN/Northrop HS) was sixth in the pole vault at 15-5, sophomore Marlin Manley (Hampton, VA/Bethel HS) was fifth in the high jump at 6-7, and senior Robert Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS/Texas-El Paso) was first in the weight throw at 50 feet, 10 ¼ inches, a mark that tied his personal best.

"Overall, we had a really solid meet," said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. "We had a lot of good performances, and, for the men, finishing sixth of 11 teams was outstanding. The women also performed well. For a first meet, it was a good way to start off the season. We still have several areas in which we'll be looking to improve."

Texas-Pan American will return to action next Saturday at the Houston Indoor Classic.

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