Charlotte, N.C. – The UTEP track and field team closed out the third day of action at the Conference USA Championships, as seven individuals solidified their spots in the finals tomorrow.
Chantoba Bright took bronze in the women’s long jump on Saturday afternoon. The freshman registered a leap of 6.07m in her first attempt of the day.
In the field, Benjamin Coronado and Iason Machairas represented the Orange in Blue in the discus throw. Coronado notched a bronze-medal finish with a personal-best toss of 48.40m. This is the first conference medal for the El Paso native. Machairas finished sixth with a season-best mark of 45.32m.
First on the track for the Miners was Carolyne Chepkosgei and Lilian Koech in the women’s 1,500m. Chepkosgei finished second in the second heat of the morning, posting a time of 4:35.09. Koech won the first heat of the 1,500m clocking in a time of 4:36.78. The duo heads in to the finals ranked second and third, respectively.
The duo returned to the track quickly after and finished one and two in the 800m prelims. Chepkosgei won the first heat with a qualifying time of 2:10.47, while Koech clocked in a winning time of 2:11.50 in heat two. The pair will take the track tomorrow in the 1,500m (2:15 p.m. MT) and 800m (3:20 p.m.).
Kimisha Chambers was the top Miner in the women’s hurdles, garnering a spot in the finals in both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles. In the 400m hurdles, she registered the top time of 59.15. The hurdler heads into tomorrow’s 400m hurdles finals (3:35 p.m.) as the favorite. In the 100m hurdles, Chambers ran in the fastest heat and clocked in a qualifying time of 13.85. The junior finished third overall and will take the track tomorrow at 2:35 p.m.
Teammate Rebecca Oshinbanjo will also represent the Miners in the 100m hurdles finals, after posting a first-place finish (14.39) in heat two. Freshman Carshaylah Harrison also earned a spot in the finals in the 400m hurdles. Harrison ran in the first heat and notched a personal-best time of 1:01.99, finishing sixth overall.
On the men’s side, Sean Bailey was the lone Miner to advance in the 400m. The transfer won heat one with a winning time of 46.37 and heads into tomorrow’s finals ranked second. He will run in the finals at 2:55 p.m.
Shakeem Smith earned a spot in the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles finals on Saturday afternoon. The hurdler won the second heat of the 400m hurdles with a time of 52.75. He heads into the finals ranked fourth overall. In the 110m hurdles, Smith finished seventh overall with a time of 14.44. He will take the track tomorrow in the 110m hurdles (2:40 p.m.) and in the 400m hurdles (3:40 p.m.).
Freshman Emilio Rios finished fifth overall in the men’s high jump, notching a personal best of 1.98m.
After only seven events of 21 the men’s team is tied at second place with 37 points. The women’s team is eighth with 18 points.
The Miners will wrap up the C-USA Championships tomorrow starting at 11 a.m. with the women’s shot put. The running events will begin at 2 p.m. with the women’s 4x100m relay.
For live results, schedule and streaming, please visit the CUSA Website
