April 5, 2011
ARLINGTON, Tex. - UT Arlington aims to improve on it is already impressive rankings this week when 17 individuals and nine relay teams compete with the nation's elite at Texas Relays.
The four-day event held at Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium begins Wednesday.
Here is a closer look at the meet:
84th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays
Wednesday-Saturday, April 6-9, 2011
Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium // Austin, Tex.
UT Arlington Entrants
Wednesday-Thursday, April 6-7
Romain Martin Decathlon
Wednesday, April 6
Anthony Rene 800m
Cody Widener 5000m
Thursday, April 7
Men
Renan Palma 400m Hurdles
Jonathan Todd 400m Hurdles
UTA 4x800m Relay
Women
Megan Turner 400m Hurdles
Brookeana Witt 400m Hurdles
UTA 4x800m Relay
Friday, April 8
Men
Cordero Gray 100m
Clayton Vaughn 100m
Renan Palma 110m Hurdles
UTA 4x100m Relay
UTA 4x400m Relay
UTA Sprint Medley Relay
Branko Petrovic Shot Put
Ivan Storic Javelin
Women
Shannon Reynolds 100m
Destinee Nixon 100m Hurdles
UTA 4x100m Relay
UTA 4x200m Relay
UTA 4x400m Relay
UTA Distance Medley Relay
Saturday, April 9
Men
Isiah Clements High Jump
Casey Keeter Shot Put
Women
Marniqua Thompson High Jump
Meet Notes
DECATHLON DEBUT: Sophomore Romain Martin makes his collegiate debut in the decathlon less than a month after placing third in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The first-year UT Arlington star has a chance to be better in the decathlon than he was in the heptathlon. One of Martin's best events has been the javelin. He recorded a throw of 61.21 meters to finish third at the Bobby Lane Invitational last weekend. Martin has also significantly improved his results in the discus and 110m hurdles. Last weekend he recorded a mark of 39.15 meters and a time of 14.45 in the two events, respectively. The LeMans, France native has made continuous progress since starting his UTA career.
TOP 15 MAVS: Look in the top 15 rankings across the nation and you can find three UT Arlington marks. Casey Keeter currently ranks 10th in the nation in the shot put with a throw of 18.12 meters. The 4x100m Relay team of Lionel Mungwari, Cordero Gray, Clayton Vaughn and Andrew Pettis is currently 14th in the nation with a time of 39.98. Gray also ranks in the top 10 in the 100m, sitting at 10th place with a time of 10.26. Gray's time of 20.77 in the 200m would have put him in a tie for 10th in the nation, but was wiped out because of excessive winds. His actual time of 20.94 ranks 22nd in the NCAA. Ivan Storic ranks just outside the top 20 in the javelin throw, where he sits at 21st with a personal-best throw of 68.07 meters.
SLC LEADERS: UT Arlington competitors lead the Southland Conference in seven events. Shannon Reynolds currently leads the women's 200m with a time of 23.94. Esther Abuto turned in the league's season-best time in the 800m in her lone race of the season with a time of 2:11.31. On the men's side, Cordero Gray leads in the 100m and the 200m with times of 10.26 and 20.77, respectively. The men's 4x100m Relay team, featuring Gray, Clayton Vaughn, Lionel Mungwari and Andrew Pettis, leads the SLC with a time of 39.98. Casey Keeter's shot put mark of 18.12 meters currently leads the league. Ivan Storic's personal-best javelin throw of 68.07 meters ranks atop the league and also ranks second in UT Arlington program history.
