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Mining Minds' Special Lighting to Honor Women's Track and Field Champions

Last Updated on February 20, 2019 at 12:00 AM

Originally published February 20, 2019

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

The "Mining Minds" pickaxe sculpture at UTEP's University Avenue roundabout will be illuminated in orange and blue Friday evening, Feb. 22, 2019, to celebrate The University of Texas at El Paso women's track and field team, which claimed the 2019 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championship on Sunday, Feb. 17, in Birmingham, Alabama.

The 'Mining Minds' pickaxe sculpture at UTEP's University Avenue roundabout will be illuminated in orange and blue Friday evening, Feb. 22, 2019, to celebrate the UTEP women's track and field team, which claimed the 2019 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championship on Sunday, Feb. 17, in Birmingham, Alabama.
The "Mining Minds" pickaxe sculpture at UTEP's University Avenue roundabout will be illuminated in orange and blue Friday evening, Feb. 22, 2019, to celebrate the UTEP women's track and field team, which claimed the 2019 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championship on Sunday, Feb. 17, in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Miners recorded a total of 89.50 points, beating Charlotte (81 points) by 8.5 points. The women’s team last won the indoor team title in 2017, when UTEP earned three consecutive indoor titles (2015, 2016, 2017).

“Coaches are extremely proud of the women’s championship team,” said Mika Laaksonen, UTEP track and field head coach. “Girls came out strong this weekend and fought hard from beginning to end. I don’t think anything went wrong for us and we got all the points we were supposed to get plus more.”

“Mining Minds” is an iconic piece of public art installed in 2010 to enhance the UTEP campus. At night, orange lights illuminate the steel structure while light from LEDs emanates from the perforated “ones” and “zeroes” at each end of the pick.

On special occasions, including historic dates, major annual milestones and to celebrate special accomplishments, the pick is illuminated in blue and orange. Learn more about the statue and its artist at miningminds.utep.edu.