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UTEP football season ticket prices have been reduced for the 2019 season, and tickets will go on sale this Monday, June 17.

“We can’t wait to get the season underway,” second-year UTEP head coach Dana Dimel said.  “I know the passion for UTEP Football is there in the community.  Come out to the stadium and support these kids.  Your presence will really help in getting this thing turned around.”

The Miners will play six home games this fall, beginning with the season opener versus Houston Baptist on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. 

UTEP will also host former Western Athletic Conference rival Nevada (Sept. 21, 6 p.m.), as well as Conference USA foes UTSA (Oct. 5, 6 p.m.), LA Tech (Oct. 26, 6 p.m.), Charlotte (Nov. 9, 1 p.m.) and Rice (Nov. 30, 1 p.m.). 

UTEP Football season ticket prices for 2019 are as follows: Captain’s Club $1,300 (reduced from $1,320 in 2018), Gold Reserved $330 (reduced from $360), Silver Reserved $250 (reduced from $300), Bronze Reserved $100 (reduced from $120), and General Admission $60 (reduced from $66).  Family packs for two adults and two youth are available for $198 (reduced from $210).

The UTEP Season Ticket Office is located at Brumbelow Building Room 109 (next to the Don Haskins Center).  Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Tickets can also be purchased online, or by calling (915) 747-6150.

A partnership between researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso and the University at Albany (UAlbany) in New York will attempt to understand how neural circuits that encode learned responses to fear develop in mammalian brains.

A research team led by Arshad Khan, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences and director of the UTEP Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, is partnering with Andrew Poulos, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at UAlbany, who is the principal investigator of a $1.89 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to determine how the brain circuits that underlie fear learning develop in male and female animals.

Khan is serving as a co-investigator on the grant and has been awarded a $650,000 portion to provide expertise in mapping these circuits using state-of-the-art instrumentation at UTEP.

At UAlbany, the Poulos lab will conduct behavioral experiments associated with a fearful stimulus. Khan’s laboratory will track the appearance of key biomarkers during the fear responses.

These biomarkers form an “activation pattern” that can be superimposed onto an atlas of the brain to create detailed maps of the regions that harbor nerve cell populations associated with fear conditioning.

“We have a massive medical burden where many individuals suffer from anxiety and fear to the point where it is actually debilitating,” Khan said. “There’s a growing awareness that fearful events or early childhood trauma can affect brain development. We have virtually no knowledge, at the circuit level, as to how those changes take root.”

When individuals experience life-threatening events, they rapidly associate them with their immediate environment. This knowledge of “where” a previous threat occurred can promote fear responses that minimize the occurrence of future threat. This form of fear, which is known as contextual fear conditioning, can be modeled in laboratory settings to identify how the brain learns about and remembers fearful experiences. Emerging evidence suggests that this aspect of fearful experience may largely differ among the sexes and between age groups.

“In our initial experiments, we are making a correlation between fear learning and specific activation patterns in brain regions, with an eye in future experiments to use this information to determine if this activation causes fear,” Khan said.

Khan said this research will provide a foundation of knowledge that can potentially contribute to pre-clinical models of stress- and trauma-related disorders and investigations that could render clearer understanding of clinical dimensions in human patients.

Khan expressed his delight to be able to work formally with Poulos, with whom he has been friends since their days together in Los Angeles working at the University of Southern California, where Khan was training as a postdoctoral researcher and Poulos was a doctoral student.

Khan added that Poulos is one of the rising authorities in the field of learning and memory research related to fear. The opportunity to work with him is a testament to the capabilities present at UTEP.

“We are benefitting from that excellence at UAlbany,” Khan said. “In turn, we are providing neuroanatomy expertise to them. Our students have the opportunity to take part in a project that is unprecedented. It really is a wonderful marriage. It’s an honor to be a part of this project.”

When the UTEP Miners take to the field this fall for their first home game in the Sun Bowl, fans will have an opportunity to experience the game from a whole new perspective.

On Monday afternoon, officials announced the addition of the Party Patio, the newest VIP area in the iconic venue, for the 2019 UTEP football season.

“We are excited to add the Party Patio to the Sun Bowl environment,” UTEP Director of Athletics Jim Senter said. “Today’s fan is looking for exclusive and unique experiences on game day and this space will provide exactly that, allowing UTEP fans to socialize and enjoy games in a way that they never have before. We anticipate it being one of the most sought after fan areas due to its atmosphere and amenities.

“This is just one piece of our overall strategy of improving game day for our fans, and our Fan Council agreed that this concept would be a hit with season ticket holders looking for a new experience on game day. We will continue to implement new initiatives and concepts moving forward. Miner Nation should be excited about what’s to come,” Senter added.

Located at field level behind the North End Zone, UTEP officials say the Party Patio will provide an “exclusive and fun-filled experience like never before.”  The Miners will kick off the 2019 season at home against Houston Baptist on August 31 at 6 p.m

Amenities at the Party Patio include two full-service bars offering draft beer, mixed drinks, wine, Pepsi products, select food/concessions offerings, premium game day beverages including draft beers from MillerCoors and Deadbeach Brewery and breathtaking views of the field and stadium.

The Party Patio will open 90 minutes prior to kickoff for each of the Miners’ six home games and close at the end of the game.

Access to the Party Patio is $99 per patron with the purchase of a season ticket.  To purchase a Party Patio pass, fans can call (915) 747-6150, visit the ticket website, or email seasontickets@utep.edu.

In two weeks, UTEP women’s basketball head coach Kevin Baker and his staff will be hosting three different basketball camps.

Information for each of the camps is found below, with interested individuals also encouraged to visit the UTEP women’s basketball camp website.

K-5th Grade Skills Camp – June 24-27, 2019 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)

Foster Stevens Basketball Complex – $100.00 (For Entire Camp)

The UTEP women’s basketball kindergarten through fifth grade skills camp will run from June 24-27 (9 a.m.-12 p.m. daily) at the Foster Stevens Basketball Complex. The cost for the four-day camp is $100, which includes 12 hours of instruction and a camp basketball and t-shirt.

It is open to children of all skill levels entering kindergarten through fifth grade. The UTEP women’s basketball staff as well as members of the UTEP women’s basketball team will help campers improve their game and skill in the game of basketball. Ball handling, passing, shooting and rebounding fundamentals will be emphasized daily.

6th Grade- 8th Grade Skills Camp – June 24-27, 2019 (1-4 p.m.)

Foster Stevens Basketball Complex – $100.00 (For Entire Camp)

The UTEP women’s basketball sixth grade through eighth grade skills camp will run from June 24-27 (1-4 p.m. daily) at the Foster Stevens Basketball Complex. The price of the entire four-day camp is $100. Campers will receive 12 total hours of instruction, in addition to a camp basketball and t-shirt. It is open to individuals of all skill levels entering grades sixth through eighth.

The UTEP women’s basketball staff and current players will teach and demonstrate daily to campers how to improve their basketball game and skills. Ball handling, passing, shooting and rebounding fundamentals will be emphasized. It will be a high-energy camp with individual skill instruction that will also include one-on-one and three-on-three competitive games and drills.

9th Grade- 12th Grade Skills Camp – June 24-27, 2019 (7-9 p.m.)

Foster Stevens Basketball Complex – $50.00 (For Entire Camp)

The UTEP women’s basketball ninth grade through 12th grade skills camp will run from June 24-27 (7-9 p.m. daily) at the Foster Stevens Basketball Complex. The price of the entire four-day camp is only $50, with campers having the chance to receive 12 total hours of instruction.

A camp t-shirt is also included. It is open to female players of all skill levels entering grades ninth through 12th. Campers will be able to develop their skills using the same drills and practices as the Miner student-athletes. The UTEP women’s basketball staff and current players will lead be actively involved, with an emphasis on ball handling, passing, shooting and rebounding fundamentals.

It will be a high energy camp with individual skill instruction that will also include one-on-one and three-on-three competitive games and drills.

UTEP officials announced that tickets to the 17th Annual UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet are now on sale.

This year’s class features Hans Hoglund (track & field), Stefon Jackson (men’s basketball), Tony Perea (football), Kayla Thornton (women’s basketball) and Brian Young (football).

They will be inducted into the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, September 20 in the Larry K. Durham Sports Center.

The social hour is at 6 p.m., with the dinner and program to follow at 7. Individual tickets are $35, and a table for 10 is $350. Availability is limited, so call the Miner Athletic Club at (915) 747-8759 or visit the website to purchase tickets.

Hoglund was a five-time NCAA champion and seven-time All-American at UTEP. He was the 1973 and 1975 NCAA indoor and outdoor champ in the shot put, the 1974 NCAA indoor champ in the event, and held the NCAA record in the shot put in 1975. In 1975, he was rated first in the world in the shot put. He took third place in the shot put at the 1972 and 1974 NCAA Outdoor Meet.

Hoglund was also a six-time WAC champion. He was a 1976 Olympic finalist (eighth place). He was a member of three NCAA Championship teams with the Miners. Hoglund is a member of the UTEP Track and Field Hall of Fame. He will be honored posthumously as he passed away in his home country of Sweden in 2012.

Jackson scored a UTEP record 2,456 points and averaged more than 23 points per game as a junior (23.6 ppg) and senior (24.5 ppg). He is also first in school history in field goals (810) and free throws (726) made. He ranked seventh nationally in scoring as a junior and fifth as a senior. He was first in the country in free throws made (312) and attempted (374) during the 2008-09 campaign.

Jackson is first in UTEP history with sixty-eight 20-point games and rates second in 30-point games with 15, one behind Jim Barnes’ 16. Jackson was a three-time All-Conference USA selection (second team 2007, first team 2008 & 2009). He went on to play overseas in Turkey, Greece and Germany. He is a member of the UTEP Men’s Basketball Centennial Team.

Perea was named first team All-WAC in 1971 and 1972, the 1972 WAC Defensive Player of the Year and an Associated Press All-American in 1971. He was the 1972 UTEP team captain. The linebacker amassed 459 career tackles, the third-best total in UTEP history.

During the 1970 season, he recorded 26 tackles versus Arizona State. He later played for the Calgary Stampeders and the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the Canadian Football League, and was also a world-ranked heavyweight boxer in his 30’s. He coached football and wrestling in the El Paso Independent School District from 1978-2006.

He was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Thornton starred for her hometown squad, culminating with helping the Miners earn runner-up honors at the 2014 WNIT in her senior season. UTEP won 96 games during her four years, including a program-record 29 victories in both the 2011-12 (29-4) and 2013-14 (29-8) campaigns.

She remains the UTEP record holder for points (1,679), rebounds (1,032), double-doubles (40), field goals made (600) and free throws made (390). She is also second in steals (217) and rebounding average (8.1). She was a three-time All-Conference USA honoree and an honorable mention All-American in 2014.

Thornton is currently a member of the Dallas Wings organization in the WNBA. She is a member of the UTEP Women’s Basketball Centennial Team.

Another El Paso native, Young was a fierce pass rusher for his hometown Miners. He closed out his college career with 32 tackles for losses and 14.5 sacks, ranking fifth in school annals in both categories.

In 1998, he became the first UTEP defensive lineman to post 100 tackles in 10 years. He also went over the century mark as a senior while registering 16 tackles for losses and eight sacks, garnering WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He played for St. Louis and New Orleans over nine seasons in the NFL, and was a part of the Rams’ 2001 Super Bowl squad. He joined the Saints coaching staff in 2009 and currently serves as New Orleans’ pass rush specialist.

He is a member of the UTEP Football Centennial Team and was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.

Sean Bailey is ready to take on the competition on Wednesday at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas.

The junior will be running in the men’s 400m semifinals at 4:30 p.m. MT. Bailey will be in the second heat of the prelims. The sprinter heads into the championships with a collegiate-best time of 45.19 registered at the NCAA West Preliminaries.

Bailey has generated a stellar season, notching five top-two finishes and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA West Prelims.

The top two from each heat plus the next best two times advance to the finals. The 400m finals are scheduled for Friday at 7:32 p.m.

Fans can watch the 400m semifinals on ESPN2 and the finals on ESPN.

For live results please visit the NCAA Website.

Many recent graduates from The University of Texas at El Paso continue to revel in their achievements, and rightly so, but they are not the only Miners who earned honors from groups at the local to national levels.

UTEP President Diana Natalicio garnered her own share of accolades as the academic year neared its end. Since April 2019, five different organizations have bestowed or plan to bestow on President Natalicio awards for her contributions to UTEP and the El Paso region. Among the groups that recognized President Natalicio are the Downtown Masonic Lodge, Visit El Paso, the Hub of Human Innovation, the YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region and the University of California, Berkeley’s Division of the Academic Senate.

The awards embellish this chapter in President Natalicio’s higher education story. In May 2018, President Natalicio announced that she would retire after 31 years as UTEP’s leader. Her tenure makes her the longest-serving current president of a public doctoral/research university in the country.

In her time at UTEP, she has deftly guided the University to national prominence as a research institution, all the while being relentless to ensure access and affordability for the student population that it serves. In 2019, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designated UTEP as an R1 top tier doctoral university with very high research activity. UTEP is one of only 130 (4.5%) universities among the 2,883 four-year higher education institutions across the U.S. to earn this distinction.

Grand Lodge of Texas: Community Builder Award

The Downtown Masonic Lodge recognized President Natalicio for her tireless service to UTEP and to the El Paso community with the Grand Lodge of Texas’ Community Builder Award on May 28, 2019, at the historic El Paso Scottish Rite Temple.

“I am honored to accept the Community Builder Award from the Downtown Masonic Lodge on behalf of the UTEP team,” President Natalicio said. “This recognition reflects the efforts of the University faculty and staff who have worked diligently to make a top tier higher education accessible to the talented students of this region, and support them throughout their college journeys. Our work would not be possible without our partnerships in the El Paso community, including such fraternal organizations as the Downtown Masonic Lodge, whose members model values that we hope all UTEP graduates embody: tolerance, respect and service. On behalf of everyone on the campus, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Grand Lodge of Texas for this award and for its commitment to El Paso’s and UTEP’s promising future.”

Leaders of the Downtown Masonic Lodge, a fraternal order established in El Paso in 1915, said the award recognizes outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community, local and state governments, places of worship, or to humanity at large. The group said it decided to honor President Natalicio based on UTEP’s physical and academic growth during her tenure, which happened in tandem with a demographic shift in student population to one that is more representative of the region.

“Dr. Natalicio is truly an El Paso treasure,” said Steve Swingle, master of the Downtown Masonic Lodge. “When we were deciding who to present this award to, she was our top choice and one that I am extremely proud to present. Her work has made our community a shining beacon that is in large part due to her dedication as President of UTEP.”

Visit El Paso: Spirit of Amigo Award

Visit El Paso, an organization that oversees the city’s destination marketing, recognized President Natalicio’s role in the enhancement of El Paso’s stature as one of the country’s marquee destinations on May 9.

The group presented President Natalicio with its Spirit of Amigo Award, which recognizes a person or organization that has had a profound and positive effect on El Paso’s image. Visit El Paso presented the award during the organization’s 16th annual National Travel and Tourism luncheon at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center. UTEP’s Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Haskins is a previous recipient of the award.

“I am pleased to accept this award on behalf of UTEP’s 25,000-plus talented and hard-working students, and the faculty and staff who have enabled them to attain their highest aspirations,” President Natalicio said. “UTEP plays a major role in the development of the surrounding region, educating the next generation of leaders, conducting top-tier research that has earned us national recognition as a Carnegie R1 university, and contributing in a variety of ways to the region’s prosperity and quality of life. With its mission to continue spreading the word about this region’s many rich assets and opportunities, Visit El Paso complements our successful efforts to attract outstanding faculty and staff to this region. I thank Visit El Paso for this recognition and for its support of The University of Texas at El Paso.”

President Natalicio was selected for the award based on her work to enhance the University’s stature and the positive outcomes it has yielded for the rest of the Paso del Norte region, said Bryan Crowe, general manager of Visit El Paso.

“We are honored to recognize such an influential leader,” Crowe said. “Dr. Natalicio has not only put UTEP on the map, but has been a vital ambassador for El Paso and the region. When selecting our recipients each year, we look for individuals who have embraced El Paso and its heritage, culture and people and go the extra mile to elevate the city to everyone they come in contact with. It only seemed fitting that we select Dr. Natalicio as this year’s recipient for her dedication to the University and to El Paso.”

Hub of Human Innovation: Lifetime Innovation Award

The Hub of Human Innovation presented President Natalicio with a special Lifetime Innovation Award on May 3.

She received the award during the nonprofit business incubator’s third annual El Paso Innovation Awards breakfast at the El Paso Club.

The awards recognizes individuals who encourage business innovation and contribute to the growth and prosperity of the region.

“I am honored and grateful to the Hub of Human Innovation for this recognition of UTEP’s success over the past 30 years in preparing all talented and high-aspiring young people to contribute to the future prosperity and quality of life of this Paso del Norte region,” President Natalicio said. “We look forward to future opportunities to participate actively in regional efforts to develop locally — and attract from elsewhere — enterprises that will be aligned with this enriched pool of UTEP graduates, too many of whom now leave the area to pursue careers commensurate with their skills and career goals.”

YWCA El Paso del Norte Region: Community Impact Award

YWCA El Paso del Norte Region (YWCA) recognized President Natalicio on April 25 at the 26th Annual Women’s Luncheon with the organization’s YWCA Community Impact Award for her commitment to and passion for improving the El Paso community and for serving as a role model to women and girls everywhere. The award is also in gratitude for her 31 years of service to UTEP as its President.

“Dr. Natalicio is a pillar of strength and has been a catalyst for countless amazing accomplishments at UTEP and in our city,” said Sylvia Acosta, Ph.D., CEO of YWCA. “Beyond that, she is someone I, and the members of our Women’s Luncheon committee, have admired for her leadership and passion. We are proud to be able to honor her as a role model and empowering woman in our community.”

The annual luncheon has raised funds to support thousands of women, children and families in El Paso, including home and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence, racial justice education, affordable housing opportunities, and workforce and life skills development, to name a few.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by YWCA El Paso del Norte Region with its inaugural YWCA Community Impact Award,” President Natalicio said. “This award strongly validates the important role UTEP plays in our community – a role we could not successfully fulfill without the collaboration of individuals and organizations such as the YWCA that work tirelessly to help people of all ages achieve their dreams. It is a privilege to work closely with our local partners to elevate the quality of life for all residents of the Paso del Norte region.”

UC Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate: Clark Kerr Award

President Natalicio was one of two higher education leaders recognized as winners of the Clark Kerr Award from the University of California, Berkeley’s Division of the Academic Senate for their “extraordinary and distinguished contributions to the advancement of higher education.”

The division announced on April 22 that President Natalicio and Freeman Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, would receive the award, which is named in tribute to the leadership and legacy of University of California President Emeritus Clark Kerr. The award, created in 1968, recognizes those who have made extraordinary and distinguished contributions to the advancement of higher education.

The group selected the 2019 awardees for their contributions to higher education and for leading transformative change at their respective institutions. They will receive their awards this fall.

Author:  Pablo Villa – UTEP Communications

UTEP’s game at Texas Tech (Sept. 7) will be televised on FSN and the Miners’ game at North Texas (Nov. 2) will be carried on the NFL Network as part of Conference USA’s broadcast schedule for the 2019 football season, announced on Thursday.

UTEP will battle the Red Raiders in Lubbock at 6 p.m. MT.  The Miners and the Mean Green will kick off from Denton at 1:30 p.m. MT.

Nine more UTEP games will be streamed on ESPN platforms.

The Miners’ matchups versus Houston Baptist (Aug. 31, 6 p.m. MT), at Southern Miss (Sept. 28, 5 p.m. MT), versus UTSA (Oct. 5, 6 p.m. MT), at FIU (Oct. 19, 5 p.m. MT), and versus Charlotte (Nov. 9, 1 p.m. MT) will be shown on ESPN+.

UTEP’s contests versus Nevada (Sept. 21, 6 p.m. MT), versus LA Tech (Oct. 26, 6 p.m. MT), at UAB (Nov. 16, TBD) and versus Rice (Nov. 30, 1 p.m. MT) will be available on ESPN3.

Additional Conference USA football broadcast exposures will be released as soon as they are finalized.

Fans can get a sneak peek at the 2019 UTEP football season at the all-new “Morning With the Miners” on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 a.m. in the Sun Bowl.

“Morning With the Miners” is a fresh take on the long-running UTEP Kickoff Luncheon. This year, fans can enjoy breakfast in one of college football’s most picturesque venues and get the lowdown on the 2019 Miner squad from Director of Athletics Jim Senter and second-year head coach Dana Dimel.

The event will take place on the field of the Sun Bowl, providing a one-of-kind experience for attendees. Event-goers will also enjoy a delicious meal as they take in an El Paso sunrise and receive exclusive insight into UTEP Athletics and the Miner football program.

Additionally, former UTEP star quarterback Jordan Palmer will be the celebrity guest speaker.

Palmer played for the Miners from 2003-06 and threw for a school-record 3,595 yards as a senior. He ranks first in school history in passing efficiency (136.26), completion percentage (65.7) and 300-yard passing games (16), and second in total offense (11,041 yards), passing yards (11,084) and passing touchdowns (88).

Palmer, who led the Miners to two bowl games and 21 wins over his last three seasons, was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 2007 NFL Draft and also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans.

After concluding his playing career, he has served as a quarterback consultant and entrepreneur.

Get your tickets today, as “Morning With the Miners” is expected to sell out! Tables of 10 are $650 and individual tickets are $65. To sign up, call the Miner Athletic Club at (915) 747-5841 or visit www.minerathleticclub.com.

All proceeds will benefit student athlete scholarships.

The Miners will launch the 2019 season at home against Houston Baptist on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Sacramento – The UTEP track and field team concluded action at the 2019 NCAA West Prelims on Saturday.

Chantoba Bright closed out her first season with the Orange and Blue competing in the triple and long jump. The freshman posted a 24th-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 12.58m. Bright registered a leap of 5.84m in the long jump on Friday evening.

Iason Machairas also took the field for the last time this season in the men’s shot put. The freshman scratched his first two attempts of the day, before recording a toss of 17.38m in his final throw.

Sean Bailey and Lilian Koech are the two Miners that advanced to the NCAA Championships yesterday.

Bailey earned an automatic bid, finishing second in the 400m quarterfinals. The junior crossed the finish line with a season-best time of 45.19, posting a fourth-place finish overall.

Koech is making her second trip to the NCAA Championships, the senior clocked in a personal-best time of 2:03.73, automatically advancing with a third-place finish in the second heat.

The 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships is scheduled for June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.

Sacramento – Sean Bailey and Lilian Koech punched their ticket to Austin, Texas, for the NCAA Championships (June 5-8) on Friday night.

Bailey earned an automatic bid, finishing second in the third heat of the men’s 400m quarterfinals. The junior crossed the finish line with a season-best time of 45.19, posting a fourth-place finish overall. His time also ranks fourth all-time in program history.

Koech is making her second trip to the NCAA Championships, as the senior made an appearance in 2017 in the 800m. The mid-distance runner clocked in a personal-best time of 2:03.73, automatically advancing with a third-place finish in the second heat. Her time rates third all-time in program history.

In his first trip to the NCAA West Preliminaries, Marek Taskar finished 22nd overall in the men’s javelin. The freshman registered a mark of 64.78m in his third and final attempt of the day.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Kimisha Chambers and Dreshanae Rolle concluded their season. Chambers finished 17th with a time of 58.66, while Rolle took 23rd place.

Freshman Maribel Caicedo closed out her season, recording a personal-best time of 13.52 in the 100m hurdles.

On the men’s side, Shakeem Smith notched a 22nd-place finish with a time of 52.80 in the 400m hurdles.

The top-12 qualifiers of each event will move on to the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships scheduled for June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.

Live streaming of the west preliminaries will be available on flotrack.org. For live results please visit,  this website.

Schedule

Saturday
Men’s Shot Put                      3:45 p.m.
Women’s Triple Jump           4 p.m.

Sacramento – Four Miners earned a spot in Friday’s finals at the NCAA West Preliminaries on Thursday.

On the men’s side, Sean Bailey was the top finisher in the second heat of the night in the 400m. The junior clocked in a winning time of 46.45, earning a spot in the finals tomorrow at 6:45 p.m. MT. He heads into the finals in ninth out of 23 runners.

Shakeem Smith was the second Miner to advance to the finals. The junior took the track in the fifth heat of the 400m hurdles and finished third. Smith automatically qualified with a time of 50.98. The hurdler is set to compete tomorrow at 8:15 p.m.

On the women’s side, Kimisha Chambers secured her spot in the 400m hurdles finals tomorrow (8 p.m.). The junior crossed the finish line third in the third heat with a time of 58.56.

Lilian Koech was the last Miner to move on to tomorrow’s finals in the 800m. The senior was in the fastest heat of the night and notched an automatic bid with a third-place finish. Koech posted a time of 2:05.96, finishing fourth overall in the prelims.

Freshman Roosa Yloenen finished her first season with the Orange and Blue with an 18th-place finish in the javelin. The thrower recorded a toss of 46.64m in her second attempt of the day.

Junior Karol Koncos also wrapped up his season taking the field in the hammer throw. He finished 22nd overall with a mark of 62.28m.

The top-12 qualifiers of each event will move on to the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships scheduled for June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.

Live streaming of the west preliminaries will be available on flotrack.org. For live results please visit this website.

Schedule

Friday
Men’s Javelin                         1 p.m.
Women’s 100m Hurdles        4:30 p.m. (First Round)
Men’s 400m                           6:45 p.m. (Quarterfinals)
Women’s 800m                      7:30 p.m. (Quarterfinals)
Women’s 400m Hurdles         8 p.m. (Quarterfinals)

Saturday
Men’s Shot Put                      3:45 p.m.
Women’s Triple Jump             4 p.m.
Women’s 100m Hurdles         8:05 p.m. (Quarterfinals)

Thirteen Miners will gear up to compete on May 23-25 at the 2019 NCAA West Preliminaries in Sacramento, California.

Kicking off the meet on Thursday will be junior Karol Koncos in the men’s hammer at 1 p.m. MT. The thrower heads into the preliminaries ranked 16 in the west region with a personal-best toss of 65.59m registered at Texas Relays. Koncos posted four top-five finishes this season, including a silver finish at the Conference USA Championships.

Also taking the field for the Miners on Thursday (1 p.m.) will be newcomer Roosa Yloenen in the javelin throw. The freshman competed three times this season and claimed two first-place finishes, including a win at the C-USA Championships.

Yloenen recorded a collegiate-best mark of 50.44m at the Texas A&M Invitational. She heads into the meet ranked 16th in the region.

Closing out the field events on Thursday will be Chantoba Bright in the long jump at 7:45 p.m. The freshman rates 16th with a season-best leap of 6.30m (W: 3.1) set at the UTEP Springtime.

The jumper took bronze at the C-USA Championships with a mark of 6.07m. Bright will also take the field on Saturday in the triple jump at 4 p.m.

On the track, Kimisha Chambers will be the first Miner to compete on Thursday in the 400m hurdles at 5:30 p.m. The transfer claimed the crown at the C-USA Championships, clocking in a time of 59.15. The junior clocked in a personal-best time of 57.82 at the Desert Heat Classic, which earned her the no. 9 spot heading into the regional meet.

Joining her on the track is senior Dreshanae Rolle. The hurdler notched a season-best time of 59.23 at the Desert Heat Classic.

Representing the men’s team in the 400m hurdles (6 p.m.) is Shakeem Smith. The junior continues to improve every time he takes the track. Smith took the crown at the C-USA Championships with a personal-best time of 50.86. He ranks 18th in the west region.

On the sprints side, Sean Bailey is the lone Miner racing in the 400m on Thursday at 8:45 p.m. He heads into the competition as the highest ranked Miner, sitting at third in the west region with a personal best of 45.54 registered at the Desert Heat Classic. The transfer has notched five top-two finishes this season.

Making her last appearance at the NCAA West Preliminaries is senior Lilian Koech. The distance runner has made three appearances at the regional meet and advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2017. The C-USA Champion will take the track in the 800m at 9:10 p.m. Koech will be joined by Carolyne Chepkosgei, who posted a personal-best time of 2:06.45 at the Desert Heat Classic.

Also representing the Miners on the distance side is Winny Koech. The junior missed the 2018 outdoor season, but made an appearance at the NCAA Championships in 2017 in the 10,000m. Koech recorded a personal-best time of 33:35.68 in the 10,000m at the MT. SAC Relays. She also earned two gold medals at the C-USA Championships in the 10,000m and 5,000m. The distance runner will close out the first day of action in the 10,000m at 10 p.m.

Friday’s action will kick off at 1 p.m. with the men’s javelin throw, which will feature Marek Taskar. The freshman notched a season-best mark of 65.24m at C-USA Championships taking silver.

Taking the track on Friday will be Maribel Caicedo in the 100m hurdles (5:30 p.m.). The freshman is making her first appearance at the west preliminaries. Earlier in the year, she clocked in a collegiate-best time of 13.55 at the Desert Heat Classic.

On Saturday, Iason Machairas will take the field in the men’s shot put at 3:45 p.m. The freshman posted six top-five finishes this season and took bronze at the C-USA Championships. He set a collegiate-best throw of 18.45m at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

The top-12 qualifiers of each event will move on to the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships scheduled for June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.

Live streaming of the west preliminaries will be available on flotrack.org. For live results please visit, https://dt8v5llb2dwhs.cloudfront.net/West/index.htm

Schedule
Thursday
Men’s Hammer 1 p.m.
Women’s Javelin 1 p.m.
Women’s 400m Hurdles 5:30 p.m. (First Round)
Men’s 400m Hurdles 6 p.m. (First Round)
Women’s Long Jump 7:45 p.m.
Men’s 400m 8:45 p.m. (First Round)
Women’s 800m 9:10 p.m. (First Round)
Women’s 10,000m 10 p.m.

Friday
Men’s Javelin 1 p.m.
Women’s 100m Hurdles 4:30 p.m. (First Round)
Men’s 400m 6:45 p.m. (Quarterfinals)
Women’s 800m 7:30 p.m. (Quarterfinals)
Women’s 400m Hurdles 8 p.m. (Quarterfinals)

Saturday
Men’s Shot Put 3:45 p.m.
Women’s Triple Jump 4 p.m.
Women’s 100m Hurdles 8:05 p.m. (Quarterfinals)

*The first round (100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 400m, 800m) will consist of six heats of eight competitors. Twenty-four, the top three from each heat plus the next best six times, after tie breaking, will qualify from the first round to the quarter-final round.

The UTEP track and field team will be represented by 13 entries at next week’s NCAA West Preliminaries as official selections were announced Thursday.

The meet will take place May 23-25 at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California.

The Miners’ 13 entries – eight women, five men – are spread among 12 events. The top 12 finishers in each event will then advance to the 2019 NCAA Championships (June 5-8) in Austin, Texas.

UTEP Entries

Women (8)

800m

Lilian Koech (2:05.42)

Carolyne Chepkosgei (2:06.45)

10,000m

Winny Koech (33:35.68)

100m Hurdles

Maribel Caicedo (13.55)

400m Hurdles

Kimisha Chambers (57.82)

Dreshanae Rolle (59.23)

Long Jump

Chantoba Bright (6.30m)

Triple Jump

Chantoba Bright (13.01m)

Javelin Throw

Roosa Yloenen (50.44m)

Men (5)

400m

Sean Bailey (45.54)

400m Hurdles

Shakeem Smith (50.86)

Shot Put

Iason Machairas (18.45m)

Hammer Throw

Karol Koncos (65.59m)

Javelin Throw

Marek Taskar (65.24m)

LOUISVILLE, Ky.– UTEP softball’s Kacey Duffield earned National Fast Pitch Association All-Region third team honors, the NFCA announced on Thursday.

Duffield adds the NFCA All-Region selection to her senior season filled with accolades.

The Fairbanks, Alaska, native was named to the All-Conference USA First team, and was the C-USA Player of the Week (3/11).

The first baseman led the team in batting average (.388), hits (53) and on-base percentage (.482). She reached base safely in 44 of the Miners’ 50 games this season and produced a program-record 20-fielded double plays.

Duffield is only the seventh player in UTEP history to earn All-Region honors, and is the first since Courtney Clayton did it last season.