For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 15, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

MARTZALL QUALIFIES, UTPA DOES WELL

EDINBURG, TX-Sophomore pole vaulter Jeff Martzall (Fort Wayne, IN/Northrop HS) qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships, and The University of Texas-Pan American's track and field team had a good outing in their final meet of the 2003 regular season at the UTPA Open at the UTPA Track and Field Complex Thursday evening.

Martzall's pole vault of 16 feet, one inch allowed him to finish first, set a school record, and qualify for the regionals.

"Jeff made it on his second attempt, and he had three good attempts at 16-7," said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. "He had a good day, and I think he's ready to jump really well at regionals."

Sophomore Rowena Hamlet (Mississauga, ON/Lorne Park SS) also performed well. Although she didn't qualify for regionals, she finished first in 62.6 seconds, her second best time of the season.

Sophomore Westly Keating (Pharr, TX/PSJA HS/Texas) won at 5000 meters in a time of 14:33.76. Senior Robert Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS/Texas-El Paso) and junior J.C. Crosby (Pharr, TX/PSJA HS) threw well. Lopez was third in the discus at 145-7, and second in the hammer at 179-6. Crosby was fourth in the discus at 145-1 and second in a season-best 50-3 ½ in the shot put.

"Westly had a good tune-up for regionals," said Vaughn. "Rowena ran a good race, Robert and J.C. threw very well, and both of them had personal records in the discus. In the hammer, Robert had his second best throw of the year, and that puts him right back to where he was before he got hurt. I think he's ready to throw even better at regionals."

Keating, Martzall, Lopez, sophomore Marlin Manley (Hampton, VA/Bethel HS), junior Rashaad Ben (Austin, TX/Lanier HS) and sophomore Deneb DeLuna (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) will represent Texas-Pan American at the NCAA Regionals at Nebraska May 30th and 31st.

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