May 15, 2008

Four UTEP student-athletes were selected to the Conference USA Track & Field All-Academic Team, announced on Thursday by the league office.

UTEP's Mickael Hanany, Patrick Mutai and Japheth Ng'ojoy occupied three of the six slots on the men's team, and Keisha Walkes was appointed to the women's squad. Hanany and Walkes are both repeat selections from last year.

Hanany, who already earned a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in chemistry, is currently pursuing a master's of business administration (MBA) at UTEP. The 2006 USTFCCCA Academic All-American is a seven-time All-American on the track. Hanany has also earned 15 conference titles entering this weekend's C-USA Outdoor Championships in El Paso. He is a two-time C-USA Athlete of the Week this season and was the C-USA Performer of the Meet and High Point Award winner at the 2006 C-USA Championships. Hanany currently has the nation's best high jump and third-best long jump.

Mutai, Ng'ojoy and Walkes are all seniors. Mutai is a three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll with a 3.24 GPA in nursing. A two-time All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, he currently holds the nation's sixth-best time (8:44.88), and won that event at the prestigious 2008 Texas Relays. Mutai was also the High Point Scorer at the 2008 C-USA Indoor Championship with a 5,000-meter title, a second-place finish in the 3,000-meters and fifth-place finish in the mile.

Ng'ojoy is also a three-time member of the Commissioner's Honor Roll with a 3.30 GPA in biology. Ng'ojoy placed third in the 5,000-meters at the 2008 C-USA Indoor Championships and has won four individual conference titles during his career. He currently holds the ninth-best time in the nation in the 10,000-meters (28:33.68) and has qualified for the NCAA Championships in that event the last three years.

Walkes has a 4.00 GPA as a biology major, with a chemistry minor. A two-time C-USA Academic Medalist, Walkes currently owns the 17th-best shot put distance in the nation with a school record throw of 52'8". She was named the C-USA Track Athlete of the Week after setting the record at the Don Kirby Memorial Invitational in Albuquerque. Walkes also placed second in the event at the 2008 C-USA Indoor Championship.