The UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics brought home the South Texas Showdown Championship trophy for the first time after competing against Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in the annual rivalry, with a final score of 33.5 to 27.5.
South Texas Showdown Championship is an annual rivalry consisting of 12 sports teams including baseball, volleyball and track & field. Each institution receives three points for each win, according to goutrgv.com.
The women’s track & field team clinched the championship by beating Corpus Christi on April 6, at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex, with a winning score of 95.5 to 70.5.
Asked about the difference between this year’s teams and former teams, Head Coach Darren Flowers said they were able to fill out the events more, making it a more “well- rounded” meet.
“For our girls this year, you know we have more depth,” Flowers said. “We have more power up at the top, so we were able to score big points.”
Coach Flowers was confident about winning this year’s championship, but some of the teammates suffered a few injuries, and on the men’s team, many people were being redshirted. But in the end, “the kids stepped up and competed hard, so that’s all that matters.”
Despite windy conditions, UTRGV athletic teams managed to break time and distance records.
The team of senior Felicia Wills, freshman Kyra Keurentjes, senior Destiny Rutherford and junior Ashley Hughes won the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:50.37, the fifth best in program history. Wills achieved the second-best performance of the 100-meter hurdle with time of 14.46.
Freshman Samariae Bonds won fourth-best shot put in program history with a distance of 14.63 meters, and sophomore Alexandrea Hurst recorded the seventh-best throw with a distance of 14.45 meters.
Senior Dai’ja Coleman recorded the fifth-best triple jump in program history with a distance of 12.26 meters.
For the men’s track & field team, senior Dimitris Levantinos earned the fourth-best 110-meter hurdle of 14.71. The team composed of sophomore Ronnie Ollivierre and freshmen Yashawn Hamilton, Maxime Gardes and Kyle Marroquin earned the sixth-best 4×100-meter relay with time of 42.54.
Freshman Jon Zapata recorded the fifth-best pole vault of 4.45 meters.
Junior Ashley Hughes broke the program record twice this season for the 400-meter dash, with a time of 54.35. In an interview with The Rider, Hughes said she is proud of herself and her team and is always looking for ways to improve.
“First, the mental side of it,” Hughes said. “Always to get into the mode to be confident and put my best effort.” Hughes also said the team is on the rise as a school and this year has been great for the team as well.
Last but not least, environmental sciences senior Diamond Thomas took over the field. She had triumph in the shot put, discus and hammer throws. Even though it’s her first season in the program, she achieved the second-best mark in shot put with 14.92 meters, and the third best in program history with 50.60 meters in discus throw.
Thomas said she has a few goals in mind before graduation.
“I’m looking to make regionals and probably nationals this year,” she said. “I really want to hit 55 meters and above in discus, and I really want to hit 15 to 16 meters in shot put.”
Thomas was also awarded the Western Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this,” she said. “It’s great seeing recognition along the way.”
As for the track & field team future goals, their main focus will be on the WAC championships, as well as the NCAA regionals and NCAA championships.
UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will receive the championship trophy at 7 p.m. May 14 at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium during a game against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
