UTEP Hosts Sun City Classic, Head Coach Francesca Green Speaks
The UTEP track and field program will host the Sun City Classic at Larry K. Durham Track at Kidd Field on Saturday. Individual day passes are $15 and available through Filmogaz.com/tickets, by calling (915) 747-UTEP, or by emailing [email protected].
Competition opens at 11 a.m. with the men’s and women’s hammer throws. Running events begin at 4 p.m. with the men’s 4×100 and conclude at 8 p.m. with the women’s 4×400 relay.
UTEP Hosts Sun City Classic and will honor its senior class at 3:45 p.m. on the field before the track events begin. Eight seniors will be recognized before competition resumes.
Coach’s comments
Head Coach Francesca Green speaks about the meet and the season. The first-year coach called this the final home meet of the season.
Green said competing at home gives the team momentum toward championship season. She also praised the senior class for their leadership.
Event entrants
Women’s roster
- Samirah Avila — 200m, 100H, javelin, high jump, long jump
- Oghenekaro Brume — 200m, 400m, 4×400
- Isabella Campa — 800m
- Andera Castillo — 800m
- Londyn Colon — 100m, 200m, 4×100
- Grace Culver — 100H, long jump
- Sarah Dovenbarger — pole vault
- Elijah Ebow-Renich — 200m, 100H, javelin, high jump, long jump
- Madison Evans — 400m, 4×400
- Peace Ewa — high jump
- Lizbeth Fierro — hammer throw
- Samahri Foster — 400H, 4×400B
- Bobbi Guillen — 1500m
- Jaylah Harris — 100m, 200m
- Brenda Jerop — 1500m
- Vallary Kiplagat — 5000m
- Salma Licon — 5000m
- Cydni Martin — 100m, 100H, 4×100, 4×400
- Amai Newman — 400m, 4×400
- Cailee Phillips — 400H, 4×400B
- Malorie Richardson-Clay — shot put
- Braela Sargent — 200m, 100H, javelin, high jump, long jump
- Addison Stricklin — 100m, 200m, 4×100, 4×400B
- Juantai-Shay Williams — 100m, 200m, 4×100, 4×400B
Men’s roster
- Sebastian Avena — 400m, 4×400
- Evan Avitia — 800m
- Oleksandr Blonskyi — 100m, 110H, javelin, pole vault, discus
- Alex Brown — long jump, triple jump
- Luke Cerda — 200m, pole vault, javelin
- Carmelo Corral — 1500m
- Damon Flemmings — 100m, javelin, high jump
- Joshua Ford — 100m, 200m, relays
- Kayden Gibson — 100m, 200m, 110H
- Joseph Gomez Whitten — 100m, 200m, relays
- Timothy Grice — 200m, relays
- Matthew Guerra — 5000m
- Andres Gurrola — 1500m
- Arion Hill — 200m, 110H
- Juan Leal — 800m
- Zion Meaders — 400m, relays
- Elias Munoz — sprints and relays
- Elijah Munoz — javelin
- Mathew Polk — 200m, 400m, relays
- Israel Quintana — 5000m
- Kalix Robinson — 400H, relays
- Paul Rotich — 800m
- Amari Taylor — 400m, 4×400
- Zacarias Velasquez — 100m, relays, long jump
- Amir Williams — 100m, 110H, relays
- Jacob Yeager — 800m
Senior spotlights
Evan Avitia
An El Paso native and Americas High School graduate. He has more than 20 meets as a Miner and 46 in his collegiate career.
He set a personal best in the 800 at the Miners Invitational.
Alex Brown
Brown transferred to UTEP before the 2025 season. He has competed in more than nine meets for UTEP.
He set a personal best at the 2025 Willie Williams Classic. He also placed on the podium at the Miners Invitational.
Oghenekaro Brume
Brume began her UTEP career in 2021. She has more than 35 collegiate meets on record.
She is a two-time gold medalist. Her 4×400 relay squad made All-Conference USA first team in 2023.
Lizbeth Fierro
Fierro joined UTEP during the 2022 indoor season. She has more than 35 throwing appearances.
She placed second in the hammer at the 2025 Don Kirby Tailwind Twilight. She also finished second in the weight throw at the 2026 Stan Scott Invitational.
Andres Gurrola
An El Paso native and Eastwood High graduate. He returned to El Paso for his final year.
Gurrola began at UTEP in 2025 cross country and earned All-Conference USA second team honors. He set a personal best in the 10,000 and placed third at the Texas Relays.
Mathew Polk
Polk started his Miner career in the 2023 indoor season. He has competed in over 30 meets.
He was named to the 2024 All-Conference USA third team. Polk ran a personal-best 47.73 in the 400 at the Miners Invitational.
Nethaneel Taylor
Taylor transferred to UTEP before the season. He began competing as a Miner in 2025 cross country.
He set PRs at the New Mexico Lobo Cross Country Invitational and Arturo Barrios Invitational. Taylor also posted indoor personal bests in the mile and 3000.
Zacarias Velasquez
Velasquez is an El Paso native and Franklin High School graduate. He joined UTEP in the 2023 indoor season.
He set a long jump PR at the 2025 CUSA Outdoor Championships. Velasquez won the long jump at the Miners Invitational and earned the CUSA Winter Spirit of Service Award.
Community and coverage
The program hopes the community attends and supports the athletes. The meet is billed as the program’s final home competition of the season.
For tickets and information visit Filmogaz.com/tickets, call (915) 747-UTEP, or email [email protected]. Coverage and results will also be available through Filmogaz.com.
