For Immediate Release: Friday, March 28, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

KEATING QUALIFIES FOR NCAAS

PALO ALTO, CA-Sophomore Westly Keating (Pharr, TX/PSJA North HS/Texas) made his first attempt at running 10,000 meters a successful one late Friday night.

He finished seventh in the 10,000 meter run at the Stanford Invitational at Cobb Track at Angell Field at Stanford University, and earned automatic qualification for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, CA June 11th through the 14th.

Keating finished the race in 28:41.95, which allowed him to qualify, since the NCAA Regionals that will be held in May will not include the 10,000 meter run.

"Westly ran a very impressive race for the first time he's ever run 10,000 meters on a track," said UTPA Assistant Coach Doug Molnar, who accompanied Keating. "Westly was with the leaders the whole way. He was actually leading the race through 5,000 meters, then everybody ran together until there was about 800 meters to go, and that's when the two leaders took off and got a lead on the rest of the pack. Westly hung in with everyone else, and they all came across at about the same time. This meet has the best field in the country, other than nationals. Every year, about 95 per cent of the qualifiers for nationals come from this meet."

UTPA will host the Angela Procter Open Saturday.

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