The No. 12 UTEP rifle team qualified for the NCAA National Rifle Championships in smallbore announced the NCAA on Tuesday. Sophomore Leah Wilcox qualified to participate in the individual portion of the championships.
The trip marks the first time the Miners will attend as a team before becoming an all-women’s sport at UTEP. Rifle became a women’s-only sport at UTEP during the 1994-95 season. All-American Sarah Paoletta was the last individual to participate. She finished sixth in 2001.
The top eight teams, the top 10 individuals in air rifle and the top 12 in smallbore nationally are chosen to compete in the championships.
The Miners won the overall portion of the national qualifier in Colorado Springs, Colo., finishing with aggregate scores of 2309 in smallbore and 2306 in air rifle. Wilcox was the top overall shooter in smallbore and air rifle, gunning 590 and 589, respectively.
Anna Crabtree and Rachel Glenn fired 576 in smallbore to finish second for the Miners, while Ila Lemons shot 567.
Kayra Davila fired 581 to finish second for the Miners and third overall in the air rifle portion of the competition. Susan Jayroe followed her with 574 and Crabtree with 562.
Wilcox will fire for the individual national title on March 11, while UTEP will compete as a team on March 12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Facilities in Colorado Springs, Colo. hosted by WAC foe Nevada.
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