Former UTEP sprinting legends Melinda Sergent and Obadele Thompson will be enshrined in the school’s track and field hall of fame on Friday night in a ceremony at the Larry K. Durham Center. The event begins at 7 p.m. MST.
Sergent and Thompson have been two of head coach Bob Kitchens’ top sprinters during his 19 seasons at UTEP. The duo piled up five NCAA titles, 18 NCAA All-American honors and 28 conference titles between them.
Sergent gained seven All-America honors and won 12 Western Athletic Conference during her career from 1991-96. She won the 1995 NCAA Indoor Championship title in the 55-meter dash.
The Houston, Texas, native, Sergent still holds the school records in the indoor 55 (6.73), the indoor 200-meter dash (23.63), the outdoor 400-meter relay (44.34) and the outdoor 800-meter relay (1:34.86). At the time of her graduation, she also held the 100-meter dash (11.14) mark.
Thompson is the most decorated sprinter in the school illustrious history. He won four NCAA titles, collected 11 NCAA All-American certificates and won 16 conference titles from 1993-97. He was the member of two WAC champion teams and helped the Miners finish in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships four times.
The native of Bridgetown, Barbados, he closed his career by pulling a rare double, sweeping the 100 and 200 at the 1997 NCAA Championships. Also won the 1997 NCAA Indoor title in the 200 and set the indoor world record in the 55, winning the 1997 WAC gold in 5.99.
Thompson won his first NCAA title in 1996 when he was a junior in the 200 at the indoor championships. He closed out his career holding school records in the indoors 55 (5.99) and 200 (20.36), as well as outdoors in the 100 (9.97), 200 (20.03), 800 relay (1:20.53) and 1,600 relay (3:02.28).
He continues to shine as one of the world’s top sprinters. He won the bronze medal in the 100 at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and was fourth in the 200 at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He also competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and holds the Barbados national record in the 100 (9.87) and the 200 (19.97).
The hall of fame ceremony is in conjunction with the UTEP Invitational, which will be held Saturday at Kidd Field. The competition begins with the field events at 10 a.m. MST, followed by the running events at 3 p.m. MST.
Ticket prices to the meet are $5 for adults and $3.50 for youths ages 3-12. All UTEP Kids Club members get in free with their membership cards. All Pete’s Pass holders will also receive free admission with their card.
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