For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

ALVARADO AND PEREZ SIGN WITH UTPA TRACK AND FIELD

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American has added two more track and field recruits for the fall.

Beto Alvarado of Weslaco High School and Weslaco, Texas will join the Broncs, and Stephanie Perez of Pace High School and Brownsville, Texas will join the Lady Broncs this fall. Each will enter UTPA as a freshman, with four years of eligibility.

Alvarado advanced to the Texas State Championships as a junior, running at 800 meters. His best time at 800 meters this year was 1:54.

"Beto could be the top runner in the (Rio Grande) Valley), said UTPA Head Coach Ricky Vaughn. "As a junior, he went to the state meet in the 800 meters, and had an incredible season. As a senior, he had an injury, but came on late in the season. If he had a few more weeks, he would have been one of the favorites at the state meet. He can run anywhere from 400 meters to 1500 meters for us. I look for a lot of great things from Beto."

Perez finished fifth at the Texas Class 5A Championships in the discus. "Stephanie is going to be a very solid thrower for us," said Vaughn. "I expect her to not only help us in the discus, but I think she'll also be able to pick up the hammer very well. I'm excited that we're getting more valley athletes to stay home, and that they see the program is going in the right direction, that they're going to get a quality education at UTPA, and that good things will happen for them when they come here."

Alvarado and Perez join Amber Kelly of Dobie High School and Houston, Texas, Bethany Anderson of Kennedale High School and Arlington, Texas, Britney Hilton of Texas City High School and Texas City, Texas, Ashley Leal and Lizet Garcia, who are from McAllen Texas, and McAllen High School, and Ashley Perez of Falfurrias, Texas and Falfurrias High School in joining Texas-Pan American's track and field team for the fall.

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