June 23, 2008

UTEP senior Mickael Hanany was named the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year on Monday. Miner sophomore Blessing Okagbare was appointed the C-USA Female Newcomer of the Year, and sophomore Aggrey Chirchir was selected the co-C-USA Male Newcomer of the Year.

The C-USA Female Athlete of the Year is Memphis thrower Susan King. Chirchir shared honors with Memphis thrower Seth Major.

Hanany was national champion in the high jump with a P.R. and school-record tying 2.32m (7-7 1/4). That jump ranks tied for second on the French list and tied for ninth on the all-time collegiate list. His performance also qualified him automatically for the Olympics. He closed out his career as an eight-time All-American and 17-time conference champion. He was named the 2008 Mountain Region Outdoor Men's Field Athlete of the Year. Hanany won the high jump and long jump at the Conference USA Championships and qualified for the NCAA meet with a second-place finish in the high jump at the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Okagbare was a three-time All-American at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She finished second at NCAA's in the triple jump (14.01m/45-11 3/4), third in the long jump (6.59m/21-7 1/2), and ran the final leg on the Miners' 4x100 relay that took sixth place at nationals with a school-record time of 43.95 seconds. Okagbare was named the 2008 Mountain Region Outdoor Women's Field Athlete of the Year. She is the school record-holder in the long jump and triple jump, winning both events at the Conference USA Outdoor Meet.

Chirchir advanced to the semifinals of the 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He won the 800 at the Texas Relays with a time of 1:50.54. He was the Conference USA runner-up in the 800 with a time of 1:50.21, as well as fourth in the 1,500 (3:54.35). Chirchir posted his season-best time of 1:48.28 in the 800 at the NCAA Midwest Regional, taking fifth place.