UTEP Miners

Prelims Underway for UTEP’s Burgher, Simpson at the 2025 NCAA ITF Championships in Virginia Beach Friday

3/13/2025 12:18:00 PM

EL PASO – UTEP's Niesha Burgher and Marissa Simpson will compete at indoor nationals for a second consecutive season. Burgher (200-meter dash) and Simpson (60-meter hurdles) will race in the semifinals at the 2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Norfolk State University on March 14 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach.

"We're excited for the opportunity for these two young ladies," UTEP Director of Track & Field Mika Laaksonen said. "I think both are physically and mentally ready. Niesha and Marissa are up for the challenge and will do well here."

On Friday, Simpson will run the 60H semifinals at 2:30 p.m. MDT/4:30 EDT, while Burgher will see action in the women's 200 semifinals at 3:02 p.m. MDT/5:02 EDT. The finals will be held on Saturday, March 15 (60H at 1:40 p.m. MDT/3:30 EDT, 200 at 1:50 p.m. MDT/3:50 EDT).

NCAA ITF CHAMPIONSHIPS INFORMATION
Live Results | ESPN+ (Friday) | Schedule

Burgher ranks second in the nation in the 200 with a school and personal-record time of 22.39, which she turned in at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational on Valentine's Day. Before last year's appearance, Burgher was the first Miner since Florence Uwakwe in 2016 to run the 200 at the indoor championships. Burgher will be the first women's indoor 200 sprinter in program history to make back-to-back appearances.

Simpson is 10^th nationally in the 60H with an 8.02 at the Corky Classic on Jan. 17 to open the indoor campaign. Simpson will be the first 60 hurdler since Janice Jackson to make repeat appearances at the championships. Jackson did so in 2013 and 2014.

Last season, the pair were named second team All-Americans following their performances in Boston at The Track at New Balance on March 8.

Recently, Burgher was named the 2025 Conference USA Women's Track Performer of the Meet. She also racked up a meet-high 21.5 points with her trio of medals. Burgher clocked in a meet and facility-record 22.73 on her way to a three-peat victory in the women's 200-meter dash at the CUSA ITF Championships on March 1. She's the first in program history to win three straight gold medals and the first in CUSA history to win three consecutive women's 200 races. Burger racked up three medals claiming gold in the 60 and bronze in the 4x400.

Marissa Simpson also leaped to a three-peat, winning gold in the women's 60-meter hurdles with an 8.14 at the conference meet. She's the first CUSA women's indoor hurdler since UCF's Jackie Coward to win three consecutive 60 hurdles.

Burgher and Simpson will represent two of the four participants from CUSA. FIU's Michaelle Valentin (weight throw) and Liberty's Meredith Engle (pentathlon) will also make the trip to Virginia Beach.

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