For Immediate Release: Monday, May 26, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

UTPA SENDS SIX TO NCAA REGIONALS

EDINBURG, TX-For the first time ever, the NCAA will conduct regional qualifying competition in order for student-athletes to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The University of Texas-Pan American's track and field team will send six participants to the NCAA Midwest Regionals at the University of Nebraska this weekend in an effort to qualify for the NCAAs.

Sophomore Deneb DeLuna (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) will represent the Lady Broncs, and will attempt to qualify in the shot put. The Broncs will be represented by five student-athletes. Sophomore Westly Keating (Pharr, TX/PSJA North HS/Texas) will attempt to qualify at 5000 meters, senior Robert Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS/Texas-El Paso) will try to qualify in the hammer throw, sophomore Marlin Manley (Hampton, VA/Bethel HS) will compete in the high jump, junior Rashaad Ben (Austin, TX/Sidney Lanier HS) will compete in the 110 meter hurdles, and sophomore Jeff Martzall (Fort Wayne, IN/Northrop HS) will go in the pole vault.

The regional meet will take place Friday and Saturday at Nebraska's Ed Weir Track Stadium. Keating, DeLuna, Ben, Lopez and Manley will compete Friday, with Ben competing in preliminaries, and all the others competing in finals. Martzall will compete Saturday, and Ben will compete again Saturday if he advances to the finals.

The top five finishers in each event will be guaranteed spots at the NCAAs. In addition, a committee will also select five competitors nationally in each event as at-large entrants.

"I'm excited to see how it works," said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. "Because of the new process, we may have a few athletes who have a better chance to go than they would have under the old system. Rashaad and Marlin have good chances to make it. If they perform very well, they could go. If Deneb throws like she can and is able to avoid fouling, she will also have a chance to advance. Robert and Jeff are long shots, but all of our athletes will get good experience at this meet, whether or not they make it, and that will help them for next year."

Keating has already qualified for the NCAAs at 10,000 meters, an event that is exempt from the regional qualifying system. "Westly would not be able to double (run both the 5,000 and the 10,000) at nationals, so if he qualifies, he would likely decline the spot," said Vaughn. "Regardless of how he does, it will set him up well for a good race in two weeks at nationals."

The student-athletes who qualify will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, CA June 11th through the 14th.

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NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, MAY 30TH

10:00 a.m.-Men's hammer throw
3:30 p.m.-Women's shot put
3:30 p.m.-Men's high jump
3:30 p.m.-Men's 110 meter hurdles (preliminaries)
7:00 p.m.-Men's 5000 meter run

SATURDAY, MAY 31ST

10:30 a.m.-Men's pole vault
5:00 p.m.-Men's 110 meter hurdles (finals)