In a display of sheer marksmanship, the UTEP Miners rifle team, currently ranked No. 15, shot their way into the history books during Sunday's face-off against the higher-ranked No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs. Despite a loss with a close final tally of 4730 to 4706 in TCU's favour, the Miners put up impressive numbers, setting two school records in the process. They managed to notch a program-best 2381 in the air rifle competition and an all-time team aggregate score of 4706, as detailed by UTEP Miners.
The Miners were led by a stellar cast featuring Kameron Wells and Carlee Valenta, who each tallied an aggregate score of 1178. Wells had the edge with an 83-77 center shot count to move ahead closely. Xan Keel was hot on their heels with an 1177, and Kennedy Wells rounded out the top performers, securing a place in the top-10 with a 1173 aggregate. It's noteworthy that individual performances also shone brightly, with Wells, Valenta, and Keel placing fourth, fifth, and sixth overall, in that order.
Career-best performances from several team members further bolstered UTEP's charge to the record books. Xan Keel was on fire, surpassing all three personal records, hitting a 582 in smallbore, 595 in air rifle, and an 1177 aggregate. Likewise, Kennedy Wells brought her A-game, managing to hit career highs of 580 in smallbore, 593 in air rifle, and 1173 aggregate. Julia Czernik wasn't to be left out of the limelight, she set a new personal record in air rifle, ringing up a 592. It's clear that these achievements profoundly underscore UTEP's onward march up the national ranks.
Looking forward, the Miners will be heading to Columbus, Ohio for a two-day stint starting November 8th, hosted by Ohio State. The match slate is stacked with a quad meet on Saturday, placing UTEP alongside host Ohio State, Murray State, and Akron. The following day promises to further tighten the competition in a three-team showdown, which will pit the Miners against Murray State and West Virginia.
