May 31, 2008

The UTEP track and field teams advanced seven more individuals and one relay to the NCAA Finals as they closed out competition at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

Hans Eriksson and Dimitrios Fylladitakis (men's hammer), Aggrey Chirchir and Elias Koech (men's 800 meters), Patrick Mutai (men's 3,000 meter steeplechase), Nelly Tchayem (women's triple jump), and Kelly Young (women's 1,500 meters) all earned spots at nationals by placing in the top five of their respective events. Blessing Okagbare qualified in the women's triple jump and will compete in two events at nationals. The women's 4x100 relay also finished in the top three to qualify on Saturday.

The NCAA Finals are June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa, and UTEP will be sending a total of 14 individuals (including relays) to the meet as automatic qualifiers. Chirchir, Eriksson, Fylladitakis, Okagbare and Young will all be competing at NCAA's for the first time.

The Miners' Halimat Ismaila (100 meters), Dominic Tanui (800 meters) and Keisha Walkes (shot put) are on the NCAA bubble and could earn bids early this week as well, depending on how their performances match up with others across the country.

"All in all, it was a pretty good two days," UTEP coach Bob Kitchens said. "We brought 19 people up here and 14 are going to NCAA's for sure. That's a pretty good percentage."

Fylladitakis and Eriksson began the day by placing 2-3 respectively in the hammer. Fylladitakis threw 65.38m (214-6) and Eriksson had a personal best of 63.53m (208-5). Kansas' Egor Agafonov was the champion with a performance of 69.95m (229-6).

After winning the long jump on Friday, Okagbare presided over the triple jump field on Saturday with a Midwest Region and Ed Weir Stadium record leap of 13.97m (45-10). She also shattered her own school record of 13.86m in the event. Tchayem took fifth with a mark of 13.36m (43-10).

Young clocked in at 4:20.63 -- a personal best time -- to take fifth in the 1,500 meters.

Koech ran 1:47.44 to land third in the 800, while Chirchir was fifth in a time of 1:48.28. Both times were career bests. Tanui took seventh in 1:49.43.

Mutai placed third in the steeplechase with a clocking of 8:46.56.

The women's 4x100 relay of Quashanda Welch, Ismaila, Shalaiyah Sommerville and Okagbare was third with a school record time of 44.12 seconds, behind Texas A&M (43.42) and Baylor (44.02).

Additionally, Walkes was sixth in the women's shot put with a heave of 15.73m (51-7 1/4). The men's 4x400 meter relay contingent of Anderson Mutegi, Tanui, Chirchir and Koech was 12th in a time of 3:13.61.