UTEP Track & Field Opens the 2026 Season at Texas Tech’s Corky Classic Friday and Saturday

Meet will be streamed on ESPN+

1/15/2026 11:31:00 AM

EL PASO – The UTEP track and field team will commence the Francesca Green era at Texas Tech's Corky Classic at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock on January 16-17. Both days will be streamed on ESPN+.

Friday's competition will start at 3 p.m. CT/2 MT with the women's weight throw, while the running events will shoot off at 3:30 p.m. CT/2:30 MT with the women's 60-meter hurdles. Day one will conclude with the men's 3000-meter race at 8:35 p.m. CT/7:35 MT. Saturday's action will begin at 11 a.m. CT/10 MT with the women's shot put, while the running events will get going at 11:30 a.m. CT/10:30 MT with the women's 200-meter dash. The weekend will end with a projected finish of 4:15 p.m. CT/3:15 MT following the 4x400-meter relays (women at 3:05 p.m. CT/2:05 MT; men at 3:40 p.m. CT/2:40 MT).

CORKY CLASSIC INFORMATION
LIVE RESULTS | MEET SCHEDULE | ESPN+: Friday & Saturday

The Miners will compete against ACU, Angelo State, Arizona, Arizona State, Barton CC, Baylor, Lubbock Christian, NM State, New Mexico JC, Northwestern State, Odessa College, Purdue, SMU, South Plains College, Tarleton State, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, host Texas Tech, Wayland Baptist, and Western Texas College.

Making the trip for the women's side are Samirah Avila (600y, 60H), Oghenekaro Brume (200m, 400m, 4x400B), Londyn Colon (60m, 200m, 4x400B), Praise Djoma (long jump, triple jump, 4x400B), Sarah Dovenbarger (pole vault), Madison Evans (200m, 400m, 4x400A), Peace Ewa (high jump, 4x400A), Lizbeth Fierro (weight throw), Samahri Foster (300m, 600y), Vallary Kiplagat (3000m), Salma Licon (3000m), Cydni Martin (200m, 60H, 4x400B), Amai Newman (200m, 400m, 4x400A), Cailee Phillips (400m, 600y), Malorie Richardson-Clay (shot put), Braela Sargent (600y, 60H), Addison Stricklin (60m, 200m, 4x400A), and Juantai-Shay Williams (60m, 200m).

Traveling for the men are Sebastian Avena (200m, 400m, 4x400A), Oleksandr Blonskyi (400m, 60H, high jump), Carmelo Corral (mile), Joshua Ford (60m, 200m, 4x400B), Kayden Gibson (200m, 60H), Joseph Gomez Whitten (60m, 200m), Timothy Grice (60m, 200m, 4x400A), Arion Hill (200m, 60H, 4x400B), Juan Leal (3000m), Deondre McIntosh (60m, 200m), Zion Meaders (400m), Elias Munoz (60m, 200m, 4x400A), Mathew Polk (200m, 400m, 4x400B), Kalix Robinson (200m, 60H, 4x400B), Paul Rotich (3000m), Amari Taylor (200m, 400m, 4x400A), Nethaneel Taylor (mile), Zacarias Velasquez (60m, long jump), Amir Williams (200m, 60H), and Jacob Yeager (mile).

"We're excited to open our indoor season this weekend at Texas Tech University for the Corky Classic. This meet gives us an early opportunity to compete at a high level, test ourselves against strong competition, and see how our preparation translates when it's time to perform," said Green, who's in her first season at the helm. "Everything we do during the indoor season is about putting ourselves in position to compete for a conference championship. Being Miner Built means we show up prepared, disciplined, and ready to compete with purpose every time we step on the track. Each meet is part of that process…sharpening our execution, learning how to handle pressure, building confidence, and developing the competitive edge we'll need when it matters most. Our focus is on continual growth, accountability, and competing the right way as we build toward the end of the season."

The new era will see 19 Miners (eight women, 11 men) make their UTEP track and field debuts. Avila, Colon, Evan, Martin, Newman, Richardson-Clay, Sargent, and Williams are making their first career appearances with the Orange and Blue, while Corral, Ford, Gibson, Grice, Hill, McIntosh, Munoz, Robinson, A. Taylor, N. Taylor, and Yeager are competing on opening weekend. Corral, N. Taylor, and Yeager made their UTEP debuts with the cross country team this past season.

2026 UTEP TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE
INDOOR
Dec. 6 (Sat) – Winter All-Comers Meet – Community Event (Kidd Field)
Jan. 16-17 (Fri-Sat) – Corky Classic (Lubbock, Texas)
Jan. 24 (Sat) – Red Rider Invitational (Lubbock, Texas)
Feb. 6-7 (Fri-Sat) – New Mexico Collegiate Classic (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Feb. 13-14 (Fri-Sat) – Jarvis Invitational (Lubbock, Texas)
Feb. 27-28 (Fri-Sat) – CUSA Indoor Championships (Lynchburg, Va.)
March 6-7 (Fri-Sat) – Last Chance Meet (TBA)
March 13-14 (Fri-Sat) – NCAA Indoor Championships (Fayetteville, Ark.)

OUTDOOR
March 19-21 (Thu-Sat) – Miners Invitational (Kidd Field)
April 1-4 (Wed-Fri) – 98^th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays (Austin, Texas)
April 11 (Sat) – Sun City Classic (Kidd Field)
April 15-17 (Wed-Fri) – Bryan Clay Invitational (Azusa, Calif.)
April 15-18 (Wed-Sat) – Mt. SAC Relays/Long Beach Invitational (Walnut, Calif.)
April 24 (Thu) – Don Kirby Twilight (Albuquerque, N.M.)
May 2 (Sat) – Desert Heat Classic (Tucson, Ariz.)
May 15-17 (Fri-Sun) – CUSA Outdoor Championships (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
May 27-30 (Thu-Sat) – NCAA Outdoor Championships First Round (Fayetteville, Ark.)
June 10-13 (Wed-Sat) – NCAA Outdoor Championships (Eugene, Ore.)

*home meets

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