UTEP Track & Field Opens 2025 Campaign at Texas Tech’s Corky Classic in Lubbock Jan. 17-18, Meet to be Streamed on ESPN+

1/16/2025 9:18:00 AM

Schedule | Entry List

EL PASO – The UTEP track and field team will commence the 2025 season on Friday and Saturday, as multiple Miners will make their debuts at the Corky Classic, hosted by Texas Tech at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock. Both days will be streamed on ESPN+.

Forty-two Miners will make the trip – 21 on the women's side and 21 on the men's team. Of the group, 16 student-athletes will begin their UTEP and/or collegiate careers.

Friday's events will begin at 3 p.m. CT/2 MT with the field events, while the running events will start at 4 p.m. CT/3 MT. Saturday's field events will commence at 11 a.m. CT/10 MT and the gun goes off for the running events at 11 a.m. CT/10 MT.

Corky Classic Information:
Schedule | Live Results | ESPN+ (Fri) | ESPN+ (Sat)

Competing for the women's squad are Loubna Benhadja (600y), Chinique Brown (200, 400), Oghenekaro Brume (200, 400), Niesha Burgher (400), Praise Djoma (triple jump), Sarah Dovenbarger (pole vault), Samahdi Foster (200, 400), Brenda Jerop (mile), Ruth Jerubet (mile), Vallary Kiplagat (mile), Salma Licon (3000), Denae McFarlane (60, 200), Natalie J. Murillo (weight throw), Samoya Neil (60, long jump), Esther Osisike (shot put, weight throw), Alla Parnov (pole vault), Marissa Simpson (200, 60H), Taylor Starkey (pole vault), Addison Stricklin (60, 200), Rejoice Sule (60, 200) and Princess Uche (400).

Going for the men are Sebastian Avena (400), Evan Avitia (800), Jakub Belik (high jump), Oleksandr Blonskyi (high jump), Alex Brown (triple jump), Harrison Canfield (pole vault), Andrew Crosby (3000), Joseph Gomez Whitten (60, 200), Matthew Guerra (mile), Joshua Hill (600y), Aleks Hristov (shot put, weight throw), Noah Jirgens (weight throw), Maxwell Kipkosgei (1000), Juan Leal (3000), Julio Pacheco Estrada (400), Mathew Polk (200, 400), Kenneth Talavera (1000, 3000), Aron Tanui (800), Seth Truax (800), Amir Williams (200, 60H) and Jordani Woodley (60, 60H).

"We are excited to finally get going in track after a long cross-country season. I'm expecting a bit of a mixed bag from a first meet and some outstanding performances as usual," UTEP Track & Field Director Mika Laaksonen said. "The level of the competition is exceptional based on the teams that entered this competition, and it will be interesting to see how we handle it as a team. The indoor season is short, so we want each athlete of ours to be provided with this opportunity to put out that 'no regrets' level of effort at one of the best indoor facilities in the US."

Nine freshmen will make their collegiate track and field debuts as Dovenbarger, Foster, Stricklin, Avena, Crosby, Gomez Whitten, Guerra, Leal and Truax will don the Orange and Blue for competition this weekend.

Seven transfers will also see their first action as Djoma (LSU), Neil (South Dakota), Starkey (Arizona State), Avitia (Hutchison CC), Brown (South Dakota), Canfield (Oregon) and Williams (New Mexico Junior College) will continue their collegiate careers with the Miners.

As far as the returning veterans, seniors Benhadja, Brume, Burgher, Jerubet, McFarlane, Murillo and Simpson will compete in their final indoor seasons for the women's squad, while on the men's side, Belik, Hill, Hristov, Jirgens, Kipkosgei, Talavera, Tanui and Woodley begin their last indoor campaigns.

Hurdlers and sprinters coach Kimberly Francis makes her debut with the UTEP coaching staff. Director of UTEP Track & Field Mika Laaksonen returns for his 16^th season at the helm. Jumps and multi-events coach Paul Benavides will enter his eighth season with the Miners while sprints, relays and hurdles coach Rohsaan Griffin starts his third season on the staff.

2025 UTEP INDOOR/OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE

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