UTRGV Track & Field excited for 2022 competition

The UTRGV Track & Field Team is running back to the track with enthusiasm and motivation after preparing throughout the fall semester with new Head Coach Shareese Hicks.

Hicks graduated in 2007 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she was a four-time All-American and garnered eight shared and individual program records. The university honored Hicks by retiring her jersey and inducting her in the Charlotte Athletics Hall of Fame.

Hicks was also a 2012 USA Olympic Trials finalist in the 400-meter dash.

Asked if she likes sharing her athletic experiences with the teams, she replied, “I think it’s very inspirational. “I think it makes me very relatable with a lot of them. I can relate to a lot of the feelings that they’re experiencing within the sport. … It’s like I’ve literally walked more than a mile in their shoes, so to speak. So, they respect what I have to say. They listen, they buy in, and it’s just great to have that under my belt.”

The UTRGV Track & Field Team will compete in its first meet of the year Jan. 28 at the Houston G5 & Super 22 Invitational hosted by the University of Houston.

“I tend to take a more relaxed approach whenever it comes to motivation,” Hicks said. “Track and field is one of those sports where it is very easy for you to overstimulate yourself and get anxious. And that anxiety just leads to a competition that doesn’t go well. So, for me, you know, my main focus is to make sure that everybody is relaxed, everybody is confident in all the work that they put in, and just focus on execution. So, that’s pretty much what we do across the board with all the event groups.”

Asked which freshmen to look out for, Hicks replied, “I would say, man, pretty much all of them. All the youngsters, they’re going to be led by a lot of great veterans, a lot of great upperclassmen. Jermarrion [Stewart], Miranda [Tcheutchoua], Laura Duma and Alex Canales, who’s really, really shown a whole lot of guts, you know. He had multiple [personal records] in the cross-country season. So, he’s going to be carrying that over indoor and outdoor.”

Last year, UTRGV hosted the 2021 Western Athletic Conference Championships in May. It consists of running, field and combined events.

“It’s always really fun to go to those big meets,” said junior sprinter and jumper Elizabeth Ortiz. “Just because the team atmosphere is just completely different than a normal meet. I mean, we all come together and do our part to come out and, hopefully, get the goal done, you know. But even if we don’t get a championship, everyone comes through and pulls through with a big PR, so that’s always exciting to cheer them on and see.”

Ortiz broke a pentathlon record with 3,284 points and placed fourth in the WAC Championships. She suffered an injury last year.

Asked about any improvements she has made since the injury, she replied, “I’ve actually had a rough patch for myself. I injured myself last year so I’ve been going through the whole entire recovery process. … A lot of training to come back stronger and I think I’m ready for it. So, I’m excited to set some new PRs this season.”

Ortiz said she looks forward to the Indoor WAC Championship meets the most.

“It just gives me chills thinking about it right now,” she said. “It’s so exciting.”

Senior thrower Christian Hall-Gardner was also a competitor in the WAC Championships. He earned bronze in the hammer throw with a distance of 53.45 meters.

“I feel like I came up short, for me, personally,”Hall-Gardner said.

His favorite part about Track & Field is seeing his results pay off.

“Finally seeing that mark that you just wanted to get, it really feels good, honestly,” Hall-Gardner said.

Asked if he had any final thoughts, Hall-Gardner replied, “I say be on the lookout for us.”

The WAC Indoor Championships will be held Feb. 18 and 19 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.