For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

FOUR HEAD NORTH FOR DRAKE RELAYS

EDINBURG, TX-Four student-athletes from The University of Texas-Pan American's track and field team will have an opportunity to compete in one of the most prestigious track meets in the nation this weekend.

Two Broncs and two Lady Broncs will compete at the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA.

This is the 94th year for the Drake Relays, which began in 1910. The Drake Relays is the second oldest meet in the nation, behind the Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sophomore Westly Keating (Pharr, TX/PSJA North HS/Texas) will compete in the 5000 meter run Thursday afternoon. Friday, sophomore Rowena Hamlet (Mississauga, ON/Lorne Park SS) will compete in the 400 meter hurdles, and sophomore Deneb DeLuna (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) will participate in the shot put. Junior Hugo Cervantes (Weslaco, TX/Weslaco HS/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) will be in the 3000 meter steeplechase Saturday afternoon.

"This meet is like the Texas Relays, where you have to submit your mark, and hopefully, you get in," said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. "We submitted our marks, and these were the people who were accepted."

Vaughn is optimistic about the meet. "We feel that the people who are going have a good chance to finish in the top six in their event," said Vaughn. "Drake is a very competitive meet, and we're selective in who we send. Last year, we did well at Drake, and we had two people who finished in the top five. This year, we can do even better, since all of our people have a chance to place."

UTPA will return to action next Saturday at the Texas Invitational.

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