by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | UTEP (Local) RSS
Ivan Fernandez, who served as head coach at NM State for the last seven years and led the Aggies to four consecutive berths in the Western Athletic Conference championship match, has been named women’s tennis head coach at UTEP.
“Ivan is a great fit for us,” said UTEP Director of Athletics Bob Stull. “He has annually had NM State in the Western Athletic Conference championship picture, and he’s looking forward to leading UTEP Tennis to a new level of achievement. He brings a built-in knowledge of our program and players that will allow him to really hit the ground running, recruiting and planning for the 2017-18 season. He and his wife love this part of the country. He’ll bring stability to our program and he can’t wait to get started.”
“After more than 15 years in collegiate coaching, I am very excited to be named the next women’s tennis head coach at UTEP,” Fernandez said. “I bring many years of experience as a head coach and much-needed stability to a program with a great history. I have been part of the tennis community in this area for the last 12 years and know how important the community is to the success of any program. I am committed to returning UTEP tennis to its former glory and with the continued support of UTEP, Director of Athletics Bob Stull, and the entire athletic department, I know that I will be provided all of the resources necessary to achieve this goal.”
Fernandez’s Aggies played for the WAC title in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2015 NM State captured the league crown and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. In 2016 the Aggies were the WAC regular season champions with an undefeated league mark.
NM State boasted the WAC Player of the Year in 2016 (Ashvarya Shrivastav) and 2017 (Rimpledeep Kaur). Kaur was first team All-WAC this past season. The Aggies also had a first team All-Conference doubles tandem in Kaur and Marie-Pier Thiffault. In 2010, NM State had the first nationally ranked doubles tandem in school history in Aleksa Costa and Sophia Marks.
Overall, the Aggies tallied 18 All-WAC honors and 42 Academic All-WAC selections under his tutelage. Fernandez has also coached numerous Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team members.
Under his direction, NM State women’s tennis received a Public Recognition Award from the NCAA in May for posting a perfect 1,000 multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR). The Aggies fashioned a 3.5 grade point average, annually ranking among the best of the Aggie athletic teams in the classroom.
Fernandez also served as director of the NM State Tennis Center, which hosted the WAC Championship three times during his tenure as head coach.
Fernandez spent 12 years at NM State in all, including five as an assistant coach (2005-10).
He previously was a volunteer men’s and women’s assistant coach at NM State (2000-03), a women’s assistant coach at FIU (2003-04) and a men’s assistant coach at East Tennessee State (2004-05) prior to returning to Las Cruces. The Buccaneers won the 2005 Southern Conference Championship with a 13-0 record and secured an NCAA Tournament bid. Fernandez was a tennis professional in Las Cruces from 1999-2003.
Fernandez is a P1 Certified Tennis Professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and has taught tennis since 1990.
A Puerto Rico native, Fernandez received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas in 1996. His wife’s name is Lausanne.
by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | UTEP (Local) RSS
The UTEP track and field program received multiple Mountain Region awards for this season announced by the USTFCCA (U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) on Monday.
Emmanuel Korir and was named male Mountain Region Track Athlete of the Year, Tobi Amsuan was named female Mountain Region Track Athlete of the Year, men’s assistant coach Paul Ereng was named the Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the Year, women’s assistant coach Lacena Golding-Clarke was named the Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
Korir showed incredible talent during the season. He ran the second fastest 800m in collegiate outdoor history (1:43.73). The freshman is just one of three athletes in the world to have run sub-45 in the 400m and sub-1:45 in the 800m. Korir set the school record in both the 400m (44.53) and the 800m (1:43.73).
Korir clocked 1:45.88 at the West Region Preliminaries to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The Kenya native will run on Wednesday in the 800m semifinal starting at 7:45 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
Ereng, in his 15th year with the program, has guided an impressive 1-2 punch in the 800m with Emmanuel Korir and Michael Saruni clocking 1:43.73 and 1:45.82, respectively this season. Korir’s time is the second-fastest in collegiate history and a 44.53 in the 400m, along with a 43.34 4x40m relay split as landed the freshman on The Bowerman watch list. His athletes scored three Conference USA crowns this season.
Amusan set an NCAA Division I West Prelims record in the 100m hurdles with a wind-aided time of 12.57, a time that doubled as the sixth-fastest time in the world in the event on the season. The native of Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, totaled 24.5 points to help lead the Miners to the program’s first ever outdoor conference title.
The sophomore makers her return to the NCAA Championships after placing runner-up last year. Amusan will compete in the semifinals for the 100m hurdles on Thursday at 6:32 p.m. on ESPN2.
Golding-Clarke, in her sixth year with the program, guided Tobi Amusan to an NCAA Division I West Prelim victory in the 100m hurdles with a wind-aided time of 12.57. Amusan also totaled 24.5 points at the C-USA Championships to help the Miners claim the team title, thanks in large part to Golding-Clarke’s guidance.
Both coaches were important to helping seven individuals and the men’s 4x400m relay team qualify to the NCAA Championships held at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Ore., starting June 7-10.
For live updates and breaking news be sure to follow @UTEPTrack on Twitter and uteptrack on Instagram.
by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | UTEP (Local) RSS
Emmanuel Korir was named to The Bowerman Watch List for the third time this outdoor season announced by the USTFCCCA (U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) on Monday night.
Korir gives UTEP its 17th Watch List mention in program history – which is the seventh most by a men’s program in Watch List history. The freshman caught the nation’s attention when he clocked a time of 44.78 in the 400m on April 22 at the UTEP Invitational.
Less than one week later, Korir challenged Donavan Brazier’s year-old collegiate record at 800m. The Kenya native negative split the race at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge in Berkley, California, and crossed the finish line in 1:43.73 (Brazier’s mark stands at 1:43.55).
Korir is just one of three athletes in the world to ever run a sub-45 over 400m and sub-1:44 over 800m. In his first collegiate season, Korir holds school records in both the indoor (1:46.50) and outdoor (1:43.73) in the 800m and the outdoor 400m with at time of 44.53.
Korir won gold at the Conference USA Championships in the 400m (44.53) and helped the 4x400m relay team to a second place finish with a time of 3:06.94. The mid-distance runner carried his momentum into the West Region Preliminaries by earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in the 800m by winning his heat and setting a meet record with a time of 1:45.88. Korir anchord the 4x400m relay with a split time of 43.34 and helped the Miners to a second place finish in their heat, earning the team an automatic bid to the national stage.
The next Bowerman Watch List update will come on June 15 where 10 athletes will be cut down to four as the semifinalists. One week later, the winner will be announced in Phoenix, Ariz., at the annual USTFCCCA Convention.
Seven Miners and one relay team will make the trek to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships starting June 7-10. You can watch the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships live on the ESPN family of networks. Both the final day of the men’s championship and women’s championship will be aired in prime time on ESPN.
For live updates and breaking news be sure to follow @UTEPTrack on Twitter and uteptrack on Instagram.
by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | UTEP (Local) RSS
The UTEP track and field team will be sending nine student-athletes to compete at the 2017 NCAA Championships this week in Eugene Ore., starting Wednesday June 7 through Saturday, June 10.
Wearing the Orange and Blue for the women’s team will be Tobi Amusan (100m Hurdles), Samantha Hall (Discus Throw), Lucia Mokrasova (Heptathlon), Winny Koech (10,000m) and Lilian Koech (800m).
On the men’s side, Emmanuel Korir (800m and 4x400m relay), Michael Saruni (800m and 4x400m relays) and the 4x400m relay ream of Korir, Saruni, Asa Guevara and James Bias will represent the Miners at the NCAA Championships.
Tobi Amusan | Sophomore | Hurdles
The Sophomore makes her return to the NCAA Championships after taking runner-up last year. Amusan heads into the championships with the fastest qualifying time, when she clocked 12.57w at the West Region Prelim. The Nigerian native has yet to lose a 100m hurdles in five races thus far.
The school record holder will compete in the semifinals for the 100m hurdles on Thursday at 6:32 p.m. MT on ESPN2. A total of eight runners out of the 24 will advance to the finals. Three heats will be held (eight athletes in each heat) and the top two finishers from each heat plus the next best two fastest times will advance.
Samantha Hall | Senior | Discus
The senior will make her final appearance in the Orange and Blue at the national stage for the second time in her career after earning 13th overall at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Hall holds the school record in the discus throw with a mark of 58.50m and qualified for the NCAA Championships tossing for 56.50m at the West Region Prelims.Hall will compete on Saturday’s final starting at 4:05 p.m. on ESPN3.
Lucia Mokrasova| Junior | Heptathlon
Mokrasova will take the track in the heptathlon on Friday and Saturday morning for the Miners. The junior broke her previous school record earlier this year at the Texas Relays, she scored 5,671 points.
That point total for Mokrasova ranks her 12th nationally headed into the competition. The Slovakia native will take the track on Fridayat 1:30 p.m. on ESPN3.
Winny Koech | Sophomore | 10,000m
Koech will compete in the 10,000m Final on Thursday night at 8:08 p.m on ESPN2. Koech has clocked a personal-best 33:51.31 when she ran at the Mt. SAC Relays earlier this year. The C-USA champion ranks 17th among the 24 student-athletes competing, after running a qualifying time of 34:39.41. This will be the first trip to the national stage for Koech.
Lilian Koech | Sophomore | 800m
Making a her first appearance at the national stage, the Kenya native will run in the 800m semifinal on Thursday at 7:14 p.m on ESPN2. Koech clocked her personal best earlier this year with a time of 2:04.68 at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge. The sophomore earned one of the automatic qualifying spots from the West Region Prelim with a time of 2:07.68.
Emmanuel Korir | Freshman | 800m
The Kenya native has taken track and field by storm this year. Breaking numerous meet records and school records, including the indoor 600m world record (1:14.97). Korir is undefeated in the 800m through three races. The freshman clocked the fastest-time in the 800m earlier this year with a time of 1:43.73 at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge. Korir is just one of three athletes in the world to run sub-1:44 in the 800m and sub-45 in the 400m.
The All-American will take the track on Wednesday in the 800m semifinal starting at 7:14 p.m on ESPN2.
Michael Saruni | Freshman | 800m
Saruni has been just as spectacular as his teammate Korir. Saruni clocked a personal best 1:45.92 at the Texas Relays beating the 2012 Olympic silver medalist (Leonel Manzano) and the collegiate record holder (Donavan Brazier). Saruni heads into the championships ranked sixth in the nation.
Men’s 4x400m Relay Team
The Men’s 4x400m relay team will consist of both freshman 800m runners, senior James Bias and junior James Bias. The team registered the second-fastest time in program history with a time of 3:03.15 and ranks as the fourth-fastest qualifying time to the NCAA Championship. The team will compete on Wednesday in the 4x400m relay semifinal with the final set for Friday at 8:51 p.m. on ESPN.
You can watch the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships live on the ESPN family of networks. Both the final day of the men’s championship and women’s championship will be aired in prime time on ESPN.
For live results and breaking news be sure to follow @UTEPTrack on Twitter and uteptrack on Instagram.
by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | UTEP (Local) RSS
The former Chapin High School hurler wrapped up her UTEP career ranked tied for third in wins (24) and second in saves (five).
Staff Report June 7, 2017 86 Views
IRVING, Texas – UTEP softball’s Kaitlin Fifield is among 14 honorees for the Spring Conference USA Spirit of Service Award, as announced on Wednesday. The award is given to the student-athletes who donate their time in the community, have a high academic standing and excel in their respective sports.
Fifield donated much of her time to community service as the El Paso native worked with the Miracle League on multiple occasions, mentoring baseball teams with disabilities. Fifield assisted with instructions to kids at UTEP Softball’s Free Clinic.
Fifield also made time to help with UTEP events, which included Orange Fever Fiesta (fundraising event) and the UTEP-Army football game (hospitality/greeting).
Fifield’s classroom efforts were apparent as she was named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll all four years at UTEP.
The former Chapin High School hurler wrapped up her UTEP career ranked tied for third in wins (24) and second in saves (five).
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | UTEP (Local) RSS
With the release of Conference USA’s TV schedule on Wednesday, UTEP’s 2017 football slate has been updated.
The Miners will appear on television six times over the course of the season, including five road games – at Oklahoma (Sept. 2, FOX), at Army (Sept. 30, CBS Sports Network), at Southern Miss (Oct. 14, STADIUM), at Middle Tennessee (Nov. 4, beIN Sports) and at North Texas (Nov. 11, ESPN3). STADIUM is formerly ASN and Campus Insiders.
UTEP’s home matchup with Arizona (Sept. 15) will air on ESPN with an 8:15 p.m. Mountain start time.
Times are set for nine of the 12 games, the exception being the final three games in the month of November, which will be announced at a later date.
UTEP’s home games versus Rice (Sept. 9), WKU (Oct. 7) and UTSA (Oct. 28) will all kick at 6 p.m. Mountain time. UTEP Football Season Tickets are on sale now by calling (915) 747-6150.
2017 UTEP Football Schedule
Date Opponent Time Network
Sept. 2 at Oklahoma 1:30 p.m. FOX
Sept. 9 Rice* 6 p.m.
Sept. 15 Arizona 8:15 p.m. ESPN
Sept. 23 at NM State 6 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Army 1:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network
Oct. 7 WKU* 6 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Southern Miss* 5 p.m. STADIUM
Oct. 28 UTSA* 6 p.m.
Nov. 4 at Middle Tennessee* 5:30 p.m. beIN Sports
Nov. 11 at North Texas* TBA ESPN3
Nov. 18 LA Tech* TBA
Nov. 25 at UAB* TBA
* Conference USA game
All times Mountain
by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Natural Health, Wellness
Remember the days when, if you wanted a glass of water, you poured it from the kitchen sink tap? This seems so quaint now, considering the vast number of different types of water available, including alkaline water. But is this specialty water better for your health?
Yes, says Dr. Keith Kantor, a natural health expert an author, who says alkaline water balances the body’s pH level, which can help ward off disease.
The body’s pH level refers to the acidity or alkalinity of blood. The lower the pH, the more acidic the blood. The normal blood pH is tightly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45.
“Our body keeps our pH level at between 7.35 and .45 and it does that very well. Every time our body produces an acid, a sodium bicarbonate molecule is produced to neutralize it,” says Kantor, a natural health expert and author.
“Because the American diet is very acidic, acid can build up in the body, which is why it’s beneficial to drink alkaline water,” says Kantor, the national spokesman for Optimal Harmony Water, which manufactures a type of it.
This buildup of acid can result in acidosis (an excessively acidic condition of body fluids and tissues), and this leads to inflammation, he adds.
“Alkaline water can help with a number of health problems, including acid digestion, heartburn, low energy levels and infections, nausea, and dehydration, but the biggest one is inflammation, which leads to diabetes and obesity,” he says.
But is alkaline water really healthier than tap water?
“The FDA has not studied or reviewed the science relating to alkaline water and cannot speculate or speak to a potential benefit,” says Lyndsay Meyer, spokeswoman for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
As a registered dietitian, Vicki Shanta Retelny says her clients often ask her about different types of water.
“I don’t think there’s enough research to say that this type of water is going to be beneficial for fending off disease,” says Retelny, author of “Total Body Diet for Dummies.”’
“If you live in an area where the tap water is hard, it could be helpful, but what most people need to be concerned with is simply whether they are drinking enough water,” she adds. (Hard water is high in dissolved calcium and magnesium.)
“There may be too much iron, sulfur or even arsenic in your tap water,” she notes.
Of course, alkaline water isn’t the only specialty water available these days. Retelny’s clients often ask her about other types of waters as well, including the debate over whether tap or bottled water is best, she says.
According to her, most tap water is generally as good as bottled.
“People spend a lot of money on bottled water but it doesn’t mean that it’s healthier than tap. Usually, it’s not really necessary,” she says.
“Some people like bottled water because they want to bring their water with them on the go, and it’s measured, so they know they are drinking enough. But tap water can be just as beneficial,” she says.
Also, although people like to believe their bottled water comes straight from the spring, it does go through a bottling process, Retelny notes.
In addition, environmentalists are concerned about the buildup of plastic water bottles, she says.
Most Americans get their tap water from a water company, which is required to publicly list its ingredients, so you can call your company to find out, she notes.
But what about specialty, or designer waters, like vitamin water. According to Retelny, they aren’t necessarily healthier either.
“Vitamin water sounds healthy, but along with the vitamins comes flavorings, colors and sugar. You need to be aware of these additions because the calories can add up,” she says.
“Also, it’s difficult to know exactly how much of vitamins are in that water, and sugar-free ones may have artificial sweeteners,” she adds.
“Ordinarily, I don’t recommend vitamin water because I think you should get your vitamins from the foods you eat,” Retelny adds.
This goes for sports drinks as well, she says.
“Drinks with added potassium and sodium are there to benefit people who are sweating because they are participating in sports, she says.
“They can be beneficial for athletes, but most people don’t need them,” Retelny adds.
To add flavor to chilled water, Retelny recommends these additions:
- Lime, basil and crushed berries
- Cucumber, mint and strawberries
- Apple cider vinegar, honey and cinnamon
- Rosemary, mandarin orange
- Lemon, ginger and agave nectar
