(This is a look back at one of the best performances of the 2023-24 season.)

Feb. 9, 2024

LUBBOCK, Texas – The UT Arlington track and field team concluded day one of the Jarvis Scott Invitational with multiple personal records. Additionally, a school record that stood for 23 years was broken by Matro Jepkemboiat the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston. 
 
To open up the Jarvis Scott Invitational, Abigail Floresclaimed 3rd place in the women's weight throw with an 18.26m fling. Her mark was not only good enough for an indoor personal record, it also currently ranks 4th in the WAC standings.
 
Winnie Kipsang ran her fastest 800m of the indoor season with a mark of 2:06.99s, good enough for a 3rd place finihs. Her time currently ranks 1st in the WAC by almost 6 full seconds.
 
RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Out in Boston, the indoor women's 5000m school record set by Rebecca Johansson back in 2001 was shattered by Matro Jepkemboi by almost 40 seconds. With a blazing pace of 16:13.81s, Jepkemboi etched her name in UTA history once again, adding to an almost unfathomable freshman campaign. In her first 5000m event of the indoor season, her mark set at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational is currently the fastest in the WAC by over 39 seconds. "Absolutely proud of her," said head coach John Sauerhage. "Matro shined her first ever 5000m event and produced a school record. I'm pumped to see all of the hard work pay off."

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS FROM COACH
"Absolutely proud of our athletes," said head coach John Sauerhage. "Our crew in Lubbock have worked hard all season, and I'm glad to see the results. We have been preparing very hard for the upcoming WAC indoor championship, and this is a major step."
  
INDOOR PRS AND TOP-10 FINISHES

• Sophia Allen claimed an indoor PR in the women's pole vault with a mark of 3.48m.
• In the women's 60m hurdles, all three of UTA's entries, Zaire Moore (8.57s), Glodis Thuridardottir (8.65s) and Carla Guerrero (9.64s) claimed an indoor PR. 
• The twins claimed an indoor PR in the men's 60m hurdles, with Luke Bontke pacing his way to an 8.48s finish, while Levi Bontke ran the event in 8.67s.
• Jacob Ye ran a 1:56.21s dash in the 800m to claim a new indoor PR.
• With a pace of 55.78s in the women's 400m, Alexis Cain claimed an indoor PR.
• In the men's 400m, Jarvis Miles blazed to another indoor PR with a time of 47.17s, good enough for a 10th place finish in a loaded field. Additionally in the event, Adam Herrera (47.65s) and Javaris Bonner (48.19s) recorded an indoor PR.
• Brady Shadrick leaped 4.71m in the pole vault to claim an indoor PR.
• Securing an indoor PR in the women's long jump, McKinley Novacek set a mark of 5.56m.

NEXT UP
Day 2 of the Jarvis Scott Invitational and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational will conclude tomorrow. When the meet concludes, UTA will have some time off to prepare to compete in the WAC Indoor Championships in Albuquerque Feb. 19–20.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Follow the UTA track and field and cross country teams on X (@UTAMavsTFXC), Instagram (@UTAMavsTFXC) and Facebook (/UTAMavsTFXC).