UTEP Miners

CUSA Names UTEP T&F’s Gurrola, Velasquez to All-Academic Team

6/12/2026 10:57:00 AM

DALLAS – UTEP's Andres Gurrola and Zacarias Velasquez were named to the 2026 Conference USA Track & Field All-Academic team as announced by league officials on Friday.

Gurrola competed in five meets during the 2026 season. The senior clocked in a PR 14:32.53 in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational. The El Paso native turned in a PR in the 10,000, posting a 30:33.95 at the CUSA Championships. Gurrola fashioned a 4.00 GPA in psychology while earning a spot on the 2026 CUSA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and being a CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medalist.

Velasquez competed in 14 indoor/outdoor meets in 2026. The product of El Paso scored a point at the CUSA Championships, placing eighth in the long jump. Velasquez won the long jump at the Miners Invitational with a mark of 7.15 meters (23-5.5). Velasquez took first in the long jump at the Sun City Classic. The senior is a four-time CUSA Commissioner Academic Honor Roll recipient (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) and a three-time (2024, 2025, 2026) CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medalist. Velasquez was also the recent recipient of the CUSA Winter Spirit of Service Award on April 9. Velasquez also earned the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship on June 5. He has maintained excellent academic standing, boasting a 3.89 GPA, and is pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Velasquez received a degree in kinesiology from The University of Texas at El Paso in December 2024.

"Zacarias Velasquez and Andres Gurrola continue to represent everything we want our program to stand for, both in competition and in the classroom," UTEP head coach Francesca Green said. "Their commitment to academic excellence while balancing the demands of being Division I student-athletes is a tremendous accomplishment. We are incredibly proud of the discipline, consistency, and leadership they have demonstrated throughout the year. This recognition reflects the hard work they put in every day and serves as a great example for our entire program."

Gurrola and Velasquez were two of 11 CUSA student-athletes to be named to the men's all-academic team.

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