CONTENTS table of CONTENTS Notebook 4 QUICK FACTS P3 Miners at a Glance 5 Location El Paso, Texas Founded 1914 UTEP ATHLETICS MISSION STATEMENT Roster 6 Enrollment 22,000 The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to providing a PREVIEW Conference USA 7 Nickname Miners nationally-competitive athletics program as an integral component Colors Dark Blue, Orange, Silver Accent of the educational mission of the university. Athletic programs Conference Conference USA sponsored shall be in compliance with the highest recognized Facility Kidd Field standards of the institution and its athletics governing bodies. P8 President Dr. Diana Natalicio Intercollegiate Athletics will operate in harmony with the Director of Athletics Bob Stull university’s stated mission and be committed to the intellectual, Player Profiles 8 Head Coach Mika Laaksonen cultural, physical and social development of student-athletes. Alma Mater UTEP ‘95 In particular, the Intercollegiate Athletics program shall serve Associate Head Coach Paul Ereng as an educational opportunity for student-athletes and as a focal point to bring the student body, faculty and community MEET THE MINERS Alma Mater Virginia '93 2010-11 C-USA Record Indoor: Men: Fifth, Women: Third together. Intercollegiate Athletics will actively support diversity in Outdoor: Men: Second, Women: Fourth participation in all athletic programs and operations. Cross Country: Men: Second, Women Third P18 Athletics Phone (915) 747-5347 CREDITS Mika Laaksonen 19 Track & Field Office Phone (915) 747-5812 The 2012 UTEP Track and Field Factbook is a copyright publication Paul Ereng 20 of the UTEP Athletics Media Relations Office. Leon Settle 21 MANAGING EDITORS: Denise Mata Scott Roberts 22 EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE: Denise Mata COACHES & STAFF COACHES & STAFF LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Angela Olivas & Denise Mata COVER DESIGN: Angela Olivas OFFICIAL UTEP PHOTOGRAPHERS: Michael Reese and Ivan Pierre Aguirre MEDIA RELATIONS ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY: National Finishes 24 Alabama Athletics, Brian Kanof, Christ Media Relations Fax (915) 747-5444 Chavez, El Paso Herald-Post Archives, El Paso Times (Ruben National Champions 26 Press Box Phone (915) 747-6653 Ramirez & Mark Lambie), Getty Images (Drew Hallowell, Mario P23 All-Americans 28 PRIMARY VB CONTACT Denise Mata Prosperino), NCAA Photos, Ray Navarro, The Sun Bowl Association, NCAA Regional Finishes 32 Office (915) 747-6653 University Communications (J.R. Hernandez, Laura Trejo), UTEP Cell (915) 820-2458 Library (Special Collections, Claudia Rivers). Conference Finishes 33 Email [email protected] Conference Champions 34 UTEP ATHLETICS WEBSITES www.utepathletics.com Copy current as of March 5, 2012. Men's Indoor Records 39 www.minerstrong.com HISTORY & RECORDS HISTORY Men's Outdoor Records 41 MEDIA RELATIONS MAILING ADDRESS Women's Indoor Records 43 Brumbelow Bldg., Room 126 Women's Outdoor Records 45 201 Glory Road Olympians 47 El Paso, Texas 79902 UTEP Hall of Fame 48 p3 p8 p18 p23 QUICK VIEW Preview | Players | Coaching Staff | History & Records PREVIEW PREVIEW NOTEBOOK The UTEP track and field squads will open competition on Saturday, 2011 C-USA Championships in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m with March 24 at the UTEP Springtime at Kidd Field. times of 14:18.96 and 30:43.73, respectively. Highlighting the group of Miners is Suji Adeniyan, who earned 2011 All-Americans Endurance Abinuwa and Risper Kimaiyo lead the USTFCCCA All-American honorable mention in the 4x100m relay women’s team of 22 scheduled to compete this outdoor season. and the 4x400m relay. The senior led the men’s 4x400m relay to a fourth-place finish at the 2011 Drake Relays posting a personal-best Abinuwa earned All-American honors last season when she finished of 3:07.81. The Nigerian native took gold in the 4x100m relay and fourth at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships registering a time of 4x400m relay at the 2011 Conference USA Indoor Championships. 53.06 in the 400m dash. The senior took bronze at the C-USA Outdoor Championships in the 400m dash posting a time of 53.06. Abinuwa Junior Anthony Wright earned 2011 USTFCCCA All-American honorable participated in the NCAA West Preliminary in the 200m and 400m mention in the 4x100m relay. Wright was a member of the relay squad recording times of 23.94 and 54.56, respectively. that finished 19th at the NCAA Championships posting a time of 40.37. The junior took fourth-place in the men's 100m and 200m at the 2011 Kimaiyo comes of a successful cross country season, where she claimed C-USA Championships. five crowns, earned C-USA first team honors and finished 25th at the 2011 NCAA Cross Country Championships recording a time of 20:12 in Coming off a second-place team finish at the 2011 C-USA Cross the 6K race. The senior was also recognized for her performance in Country Championships, the men’s distance squad will take the track the classroom and the community, earning C-USA Spirit of Service and led by conference champion Justice Chirchir. The senior took silver C-USA All-Academic honors. Kimaiyo took silver at the C-USA Outdoor in the 1,500m at the Payton Jordan clocking in a time of 3:46.14. Championships in the women's 5,000m with a time of 16:48.07. The Chirchir crossed the finish line in fifth-place at the 2011 C-USA Outdoor Kenyan native posted a season-best of 16:27.10 in the 5,000m at the Championships in the men's 1,500m posting a time of 3:46.14. 2011 NCAA West Preliminary. Joining Chirchir on the track is Elkana Rotich, who earned all-region The Miners will travel to Austin, Texas on Wednesday, March 28 to honors for his performance at the 2011 NCAA Cross Country Mountain compete in Texas Relays. Regional where he crossed the finish line with a time of 31:03 in the 10K to place 14th overall. The junior earned two gold medals at the p3 p8 p18 p23 QUICK VIEW Preview | Players | Coaching Staff | History & Records 2012 UTEP TRACK & FIELD FACT BOOK | 4 2012 UTEP TRACK & FIELD FACT 2012 UTEP TRACK & FIELD FACT BOOK | 5 2012 UTEP TRACK & FIELD FACT PREVIEW MINERS AT A GLANCE COACHING STAFF 2011 SCHEDULE Name Title Date Event Location Time/Results Mika Laaksonen (UTEP ‘95) Head Coach Jan. 15 Lobo Open Albuquerque, NM All Day Paul Ereng (Virginia ‘93) Associate Head Coach Jan. 28 New Mexico Invitational Albuquerque, NM All Day Leon Settle (Arkansas Little Rock ‘99) Assistant Coach Jan. 29 New Mexico Invitational Albuquerque, NM All Day Scott Roberts (Midland Lutheran College '91) Assistant Coach Feb. 05 New Balance Armory Collegiate New York, NY All Day Notre Dame Meyo Invitational South Bend, Ind. All Day Feb. 11 Husky Invitational Seattle, Wash. All Day Feb. 12 Big-12/C-USA/SEC/Pac-10 Challenge College Station, Texas All Day 2012 SCHEDULE Feb. 25 Conference USA Championships * Houston, Texas All Day Date Event Location Time Feb. 26 Conference USA Championships * Houston, Texas W: 3rd; M: 5th Jan. 14 at Blue and Orange Opener Nampa, Idaho All Day March 05 NCAA Last Chance Qualifier * South Bend, Ind. All Day Jan. 20 at Cherry and Silver Albuquerque, N.M. All Day March 11 NCAA Indoor Championships * College Station, Texas All Day Jan. 21 at Cherry and Silver Albuquerque, N.M. All Day March 12 NCAA Indoor Championships * College Station, Texas All Day Feb. 03 at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Lincoln, Nebr. All Day March 26 UTEP Springtime El Paso, Texas All Day Feb. 04 at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Lincoln, Nebr. All Day April 02 Texas Tech Invite Lubbock, Texas All Day Feb. 11 at Texas A&M Invitational College Station, Texas All Day April 06 Texas Relays Austin, Texas All Day Feb. 25 at C-USA Indoor Championships * Birmingham, Ala. All Day April 07 Texas Relays Austin, Texas All Day Feb. 26 at C-USA Indoor Championships * Birmingham, Ala. All Day April 08 Texas Relays Austin, Texas All Day March 09 at NCAA Indoor Championships Nampa, Idaho All Day April 09 Texas Relays Austin, Texas All Day March 10 at NCAA Indoor Championships Nampa, Idaho All Day April 16 UTEP Invitational El Paso, Texas All Day March 24 UTEP Springtime El Paso, Texas All Day April 22 Texas Tech Open Lubbock, Texas All Day March 28 at Texas Relays Austin, Texas All Day April 28 Drake Relays Des Moines, Iowa All Day April 07 at Don Kirby Invitational Albuquerque, N.M. All Day April 29 Drake Relays Des Moines, Iowa All Day April 14 UTEP Invitational El Paso, Texas All Day April 30 Drake Relays Des Moines, Iowa All Day April 19 at Mt. SAC Relays Walnut, Calif. All Day May 01 Payton Jordan Invitational Stanford, Calif. All Day April 20 at Mt. SAC Relays Walnut, Calif. All Day May 12 Conference USA Championships * Houston, Texas All Day April 21 at Mt. SAC Relays Walnut, Calif. All Day May 13 Conference USA Championships Houston, Texas All Day April 26 at Drake Relays Des Moines, Iowa All Day May 14 Conference USA Championships * Houston, Texas All Day April 27 at Drake Relays Des Moines, Iowa All Day May 15 Conference USA Championships * Houston, Texas M: 2nd; W: 4th April 28 at Drake Relays Des Moines, Iowa All Day May 26 NCAA Pre Nationals Eugene, Ore. All Day May 11 at C-USA Outdoor Championships * New Orleans, La. All Day May 27 NCAA Pre Nationals Eugene, Ore. All Day May 12 at C-USA Outdoor Championships * New Orleans, La. All Day May 28 NCAA Pre Nationals Eugene, Ore. All Day May 13 at C-USA Outdoor Championships * New Orleans, La. All Day June 08 NCAA Outdoor Championships Des Moines, Iowa All Day May 14 at C-USA Outdoor Championships * New Orleans, La.