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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – UTEP freshman Emmanuel Korir took home gold in the 800m running 1:46.50 on Saturday afternoon at the Commodore Invitational breaking the school record in the event.

Elias Koech (2008) previously held the record with a time of 1:46.77 in the event. Korir time also checks in as the top-collegiate time of the season.

“This was a very good race for Korir. He will qualify for internationals with that time,” said head coach Mika Laaksonen. “I am very proud of both the men’s and women’s performances today. This was a major step in building our confidence for the rest of the season.”

Trailing closely behind Korir was teammate Michael Saruni (1:47.94) who finished second, setting the fourth-fastest time in school history.

Jonah Koech and Antony Kosgie set personal bests in their respective events. Koech dazzled in the mile run (4:02.14) claiming gold. Anthony Kosgei took second in the 3,000m clocking in a time of 8:04.19, while Cosmas Boit finished third with a time of 8:04.59.

On the women’s side, sophomore sensation Tobi Amusan clocked in a first-place finish in the 60m hurdles (8.19) setting a new personal best. Her time is also the third fastest time in school history and fourth fastest collegiate time of the season.

Ada Benjamin performed well in a very competitive 400m field earning fourth place with a time of 54:26.

In what was an eventful first meet for the Miners, a track official choked on her food. Luckily Senior Kevin Rincon was there and well trained in performing the Heimlich Maneuver helping the official through the incident.

The Miners will travel to Albuquerque, N.M. next weekend to compete in the Cherry and Silver Collegiate Invitational.

Berkeley, Ca. – The UTEP track and field team had a superb showing at the Brutus Hamilton Open on Friday afternoon. Seven Miners recorded personal bests at the meet.

Throwers Fayon Gonzales and Adebola got the action started during the morning session with the hammer throw. Gonzales took bronze with a personal best toss of 51.64m (169-05) and Adebola Akomolafe finished eighth with a heave of 48.21m (158-02). Akomolafe also finished fourth in the discus throw with a throw of 43.64m (143-02).

In the 100m dash, Florence Uwakwe took gold with a time of 11.80 and sophomore Tyler Ragin finished in fifth place with a readout of 12.41. Sven Zellner took silver for the men in the 100m dash with a time of 10.98.

Asa Guevara (21.35) and Carnell Horn (22.21/season best) sprinted to first and third-place showings in the 200m dash.

In the 800m run, Cosmas Boit held off a charging runner in the last 50m to take silver with a readout of 1:52.93. For the women, Brittney Adams collected a personal best by crossing the finish line in 2:18.57 seconds to win her heat.

Daniel Cheruiyot clocked the fourth-fastest 3,000m steeplechase time in Conference USA with a mark of 9:03.81; that mark is also a personal best.

Kevin Rincon launched a massive personal best in the hammer throw with a heave of 52.61m (172-07) to place seventh.

In the 5,000m run, Gladys Jerotich took third place with a time of 17:25.45 and Kayla Pallares clocked a personal best of 18:24.41.

All three Miners who competed in the 400m dash recorded personal bests; Dreshanae Rolle was the only woman to run and she clocked a time of 56.75, and representing the men were Tommy McCoy (51.39) and Yinka Oyebanjo-Odofin (53.02).

The Brutus Hamilton Challenge will take place tomorrow in Berekely. For live updates, follow @UTEPTrack on Twitter.