EL PASO — Gabriyella Torres posted a personal-record score in the heptathlon on Friday to lead the UTSA women's track & field team during the second day of action at this weekend's Conference USA Championships.
Torres, who came into the day in 10th place, racked up a career-high 5,009 points en route to sixth in the two-day multi-event competition. Her score was bolstered by personal records in two of the three events that were contested on Friday, the long jump (18-4 ¼/5.59m) and 800m (2:27.48). Middle Tennessee's Elizabeth Dadzie was victorious with a meet-record 5,832 points.
"It felt great to finish off the season with a lifetime best," Torres said. "Working with Coach (Aaron) Fox and my teammate, Chase (Whiting), all season to build up for this meet paid off the past couple of days. I'm just glad I was able to contribute to our team. Hopefully, I can recover well enough to help us in the next two days in a few open events."
Meanwhile, Shalise Borden placed seventh in the hammer with her throw of 177-7 (54.13m) and that was good for two points for the Roadrunners. The senior from Marana, Ariz., actually tied for the sixth-best measurement in the field of 30, but she lost the tiebreaker, as her second-longest toss (174-8/53.28m) was not longer than Charlotte's Victoria Merriweather's (176.2/53.70m). Southern Miss' Madia Maffo won the event with her throw of 194-0 (59.14m).
Meet host UTEP leads the team standings after three scored events with 28 points. Defending champion Rice (19) and Middle Tennessee (16) round out the top three, while UTSA sits in eighth place with its five points.
"We are off to a good start at this weekend's conference meet," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox said. "I am looking forward to the team having a great weekend."
The four-day meet will continue on Saturday with four event finals (3,000m steeplechase/discus/long jump/pole vault) and preliminary heats in seven running disciplines.
