College Sports Communicators Names Six UTEP Track & Field Student-Athletes to Academic All-District® Team

6/23/2026 9:59:00 AM

GREENWOOD, Ind. – UTEP track & field's Sebastian Avena, Alex Brown, Sarah Dovenbarger, Samahri Foster, Andres Gurrola, and Zacarias Velasquez were named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team announced by CSC officials on Monday.

Avena competed in 14 meets during the indoor/outdoor season. The sophomore clocked in a personal-best time of 21.33 at the outdoor 200 at the Bobcat Invitational. Avena placed third in the 200 and finished first in the 4x400 (3:16.64) at the Miners Invitational. Avena worked towards a 3.98 GPA in biomedical science. He's a two-time member of the CUSA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and Academic Medalist.

Brown competed in seven outdoor events. The graduate student leaped a PR 13.94 meters (45-9) in the triple jump at the CUSA OTF Championships. He placed second in the TJ with a leap of 13.65 meters (44-9.5) at the Sun City Classic. Brown had a 3.75 GPA in public administration. He's a two-time member of the CUSA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.

Dovenbarger competed in the pole vault at 12 indoor/outdoor meets in 2026. The El Paso native was fourth in the PV at the Don Kirby Tailwind Twilight (3.60m). She posted a mark of 3.75 meters (12-3.5) at the Conference USA OTF Championships. The sophomore scored a point in the PV at the CUSA ITF Championships with a mark of 3.71 meters. Dovenbarger carried a 3.94 GPA in biomedical science. She's a two-time member of the CUSA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and Academic Medalist.

Foster won silver in the women's 400-meter hurdles with a PR time of 1:00.56 at the CUSA OTF Championships. The sophomore was named All-CUSA second team in the 400H. The El Paso native was fourth with the women's 4x4 team. She tallied 9.25 points at the OTF Championships. Foster placed second in the 400H and 4x4 at the Sun City Classic. She turned in PRs in the 300 (41.60) and the 600y (1:27.18) at the Corky Classic. Foster won the 400H (1:02.53) and was first in the 4x4 at the Miners Invitational. Foster worked towards a 3.69 GPA in criminal justice. She was the 2026 CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.

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. Gurrola was also named to the 2026 CUSA All-Academic team on June 12.

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. Velasquez was also named to the 2026 CUSA All-Academic team on June 12.

"We are also proud of Sebastian Avena, Alex Brown, Andres Gurrola, Zacarias Velasquez, Sarah Dovenbarger, and Samahri Foster for earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors," UTEP head coach Francesca Green said. "Their success demonstrates the commitment required to excel both academically and athletically at the Division I level. These student-athletes have represented UTEP with pride and have helped establish a culture that values excellence in the classroom as much as it does in competition. We congratulate each of them on this well-deserved recognition."

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