UTPA TRACK AND FIELD ADDS THREE FOR FALL
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, 10 December 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's track and field team, has added three track and field recruits for the fall.

Distance runners Luis Nava from La Joya, Texas and La Joya High School and Megan McGuire from Avon Lake, Ohio and Avon Lake High School and sprinter and hurdler Dannie Rae Vargas from Los Fresnos, Texas and Los Fresnos High School will join the Broncs and Lady Broncs this fall. Each will enter as a freshman, with four years of eligibility.

Nava was 10th at the Texas Class 5A Cross Country Championships in 2002, finishing in 16:15.85. He was the regional champion and qualified for the state track and field championships at 1600 meters, with a time of 4:21.22, and at 3200 meters, with a time of 9:33.34.

McGuire was a three-time state qualifier in cross country, with a personal best time of 19:06. She also qualified for the state championships at 800 meters, and as a member of the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 meter relay team. Her best times are 2:15 for 800 meters and 5:11 for 1600 meters.

"Luis can come in and have an immediate impact in the distance running area," said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. "We were very fortunate to be able to sign him. He will probably be more of a mile to 3000 meter type runner, but his addition will help put our men's team into position where we can challenge to be among the top three or four teams in the region next year."

"Megan will be able to come in and have an immediate impact for us," said Vaughn. "She did very well at the Ohio state championships, and she will be able to help us get our women in position where we want to go."

"Dannie Rae will help us add depth in the sprints and hurdles," said Vaughn. "She's a quality runner and an excellent student, and we look to her to be a very solid performer for us in the future."

Nava, McGuire and Vargas join Hector Gandara of Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kansas and Rachel Reida of Cowley County Community College in joining the UTPA track and field program during the early signing period.

"This was a very good signing class for us," said Vaughn. "This is the first time we've signed anyone early since I've been here, and they are all people who were at the top of our list. They're all very solid both athletically and academically, and we feel that all of them will be NCAA regional qualifiers for us."

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