EL PASO, Texas -- Despite winning its sectional, UTEP rifle will have to sit at home after finishing 10th overall in qualifying for the 2002 NCAA Rifle Championships.
The NCAA selects the top eight qualifying scores, regardless of finish at the NCAA sectional.
The Miners, who fired a 1,534 in air rifle at the NCAA Sectional in Colorado Springs, Colo., finished four points away from advancing to the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time since 1989.
UTEP also failed to land an individual competitor at the Championships for the first time since 1998 and just the second time in the last decade.
The Miners' Sarah Paoletta took the gold medal at the NCAA Sectional, but was left out of the Championships after finishing 17th in qualifying with a 390. Paoletta finished sixth last year to earn All-Collegiate and All-America honors.
UTEP finished 15th in smallbore, after winning the sectional with a 4,558 total -- 56 points off the pace. On the bright side, it was UTEP highest-ever qualifying score in the event.
Paoletta was UTEP's top shooter with a qualifying score of 1,155 to finish 42nd nationally.
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