For Immediate Release: Saturday, March 29, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

UTPA PERFORMS WELL AT PROCTER INVITATIONAL

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American’s first home outdoor meet of the 2003 track and field season was a successful one.

Texas-Pan American student-athletes posted 15 personal records and six meet records at the Angela Procter Open at the UTPA Track. The meet was named in memory of the late Angela Procter. Procter, a multi-event competitor for the Lady Broncs, was tragically killed in an automobile accident in the spring of 1999. There were no team scores.

The Lady Broncs won 11 of the 19 events contested. Freshman Amy Torvik (Los Fresnos, TX/Los Fresnos HS) and sophomore Deneb DeLuna (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) each won two events. Torvik won the 100 meter dash in a meet record time of 12.36 seconds, and the 400 in 56.97 seconds, also a meet record. DeLuna won then shot put with a toss of 43 feet, three inches, a meet record, and won the discus with a throw of 143 feet, four inches. Freshman Margeaux McCarthy (Pharr, TX/PSJA North HS) won the 800 meter run in a meet record time of 2:17.07 and was fourth at 1500 meters in 5:01.27. Junior Patty Villarreal (Pharr, TX/PSJA North HS) won the 5000 meter run in a meet record 18:44.26, sophomore Rowena Hamlet (Mississauga, ON/Lorne Park SS) won the 400 meter hurdles in 1:05.04, junior Debbie Escobar (Roma, TX/Roma HS) won the pole vault at seven feet, six inches, and the Lady Broncs took both the 4 X100 and 4 X 400 meter relays.

For the Broncs, winners included junior Rashaad Ben (Austin, TX/Lanier HS) , who won the 110 meter hurdles in 14.48 seconds, eight-tenths of a second off the NCAA regional qualifying mark, sophomore Francisco Bouret (Brownsville, TX/Pace HS) who won at 400 meters in 50.01 seconds, and sophomore Jeff Martzall (Fort Wayne, IN/Northrop HS), who won the pole vault at 15-7, a meet record. Senior Robert Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS/Texas-El Paso) finished third in the hammer throw at 179 feet, six inches. His mark broke the UTPA record, and allowed him to qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships at Nebraska May 30th and 31st.

“We had a very good meet,” said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. “We won 11 of 19 events on the women’s side, and we had nine PRs (personal records), and any time you win that many events, things are going in the right direction. I was very pleased that our women’s 400 runners, Amy Torvik, (sophomore) Angela Billups (Mercedes, TX/Mercedes HS) and (freshman) Jessica Ehimika (Harlingen, TX/South Texas HS for Health Professions), finished one, two and three. Margeaux McCarthy ran an outstanding race in the 800, and Patty Villarreal ran really well in the 5000. Deneb DeLuna had another solid meet, winning two events and setting a meet record in the shot put.”

“On the men’s side, we did very well. Rashaad Ben just missed qualifying for regionals, and Robert Lopez threw very well. He set a new school record in the hammed, and qualified for the NCAA regionals. For as early as it is in the season, we took a big step.”

Texas-Pan American will return to action at the Texas Relays next weekend.

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