As the spring semester quickly speeds to the finish line, many college seniors are scrambling to make sure they have everything right in their academic and personal lives to graduate on time. For some UTEP graduates, it will be their last time playing flute for the university jazz band, for others, it will be their last time stepping into a lab to look at cells through a microscope.
For Arianne Morais, a senior athlete at UTEP, said it will be her last time throwing a javelin in the air for UTEP track and field. The UTEP track and field program has been essential to UTEP athletics, showcasing many talented students and their ability to run, sprint, jump, and throw. It’s a program that can sometimes be overlooked as many of its meets are nationwide, and many components are involved in the events.
One person who has made a tremendous impact on the program is Morais, who has competed in javelin for all her time at UTEP. Soon, she will graduate with her master’s degree in leadership studies, focusing on community engagement, which will add to her undergraduate degree in multidisciplinary studies. Even with her soon-to-be two degrees, Morais has made many achievements as a thrower.
Including 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American Second Team (Javelin), 2023 All-Conference USA First Team (Javelin), 2022 All-Conference USA Third Team (Javelin), and Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2022, 2023). Morias was recently named Female Field Athlete of the Week, hurling a season-best throw of 57.26 meters in the women’s javelin throw elite at the 64th Annual Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, California. Morais speaks about growing up and finding her way to the javelin.
“I was born and raised in Norway, but my family is originally from Cape Verde, West Africa,” Morais said. “It’s a lot more humid over there, and the palm trees and everything here is very desert; other than that, the heat is the heat.”
Morais’s journey started very young when she joined track and field at six years old. Although she started doing all the events, she said she eventually found her passion in throwing the javelin.
“So, I started out doing track and field when I was six years old and pretty much did all the events. It turned out that I was just naturally better at throws, and I narrowed it down to the javelin.” Morais said.
Morais started her professional track and field journey in Florida, but with the connections her coach had at UTEP, she eventually left the sandy beaches of the West Coast and headed to the hot desert of West Texas. Morais said she made the right decision, and her favorite memories are from her extended time at UTEP. She talks about a time she played in California and how that meeting gave her lots of motivation later in life.
“I went into the competition and didn’t have high expectations. I was competing against really good throwers, even pros,” Morais said. “I surprised myself by how far I threw, which motivated me to train even harder.
Though Morais has many accomplishments on the field, she said she cherishes the friendships she’s made along the way even more.
“I wouldn’t say my favorite part is a specific memory, but I think it is the friendships I have developed on this team and the people you will take with you for the rest of your life.” Morais said.
In such a physically demanding sport, injuries are bound to occur, and Morais has had her fair share of them. In a field where someone like Morais has many injuries, many schools have had to turn her away. However, UTEP stepped up to the plate, embracing the young talent with open arms. Morias had to have a physically stacked training regime as well as a regime for training the mind. Morais speaks about what throwing for UTEP has meant for her on this journey.
“It meant a lot because I come from a background where I’ve had so many injuries, and there weren’t a lot of schools willing to take me on because of that,” Morais said. “Learn to pritorize what’s important to allocate your time, but also to enjoy it. Like it’s only four years of your life, so enjoy the time and have fun.”
Catching Marginot is a contributor and may be reached at [email protected].
