El Pasoan making strides back home

El Paso native and senior thrower Matt Dudley has his goals set beyond an NCAA title. Instead, he wants to follow in his father's footsteps and earn a trip to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Matt's father, Steve Dudley, once qualified for the Olympics in the discus throw, the same event Matt has excelled in this year.

"My optimal goal really is I want to try and make it to the Olympics and hit the qualifying marks I need to make it to the Olympics for discus," Dudley said. "That's always been my goal...I'm getting closer and closer and I've had some walls and some stumbles and falls along the way, but as long as you keep on pursuing and persevering, that's how you know you're going to get there."

Dudley, a graduate of Parkland High School is already one of the best throwers in Conference-USA, earning first place in his first meet of the season Jan. 14 at Boise, Idaho. He's looking to improve for the indoor conference championships Feb. 25-26 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Prior to his time competing as a Miner, Dudley attended C-USA foe Houston for three years.

"It's always good to be back home," Dudley said. "I have the support of my family as well as other people who have supported me throughout my high school career, and even when I was in Houston."

At Houston, Dudley set a personal best in the shot put during the indoor C-USA championships with a mark of 15.91 meters. Since then, he's improved with a mark of 16.9 meters doing so in the first meet of the indoor season at Boise.

Dudley is glad to be back home competing in front of people close to him.

"Well being back home, I'm around people I know, familiar faces. I see a lot of people that I've met through high school and competing in high school here," Dudley said. "I see those same faces, re-interacting, reconnecting, you know reviving relationships with past friends."

The Miners have built what some may consider as a rivalry in every sport against Houston since joining C-USA in 2005. Dudley is aware of it and being a transfer from Houston competing against his former school might add to the motivation.

"Essentially, they're my rivals. I transferred from Houston. They didn't release me, I had to sit out because they wouldn't release me so in a sense it's like not getting back at them but it's a rivalry," Dudley said. "Houston is our biggest rival as well. You have to perform at your optimum level especially going against your rival. I can't wait to get to that point because I know it's going to be good, healthy competition."

Head coach Mika Laaksonen said Dudley has the potential to win his events at the conference championships and that is one step closer to his goals. Dudley emphasizes being consistent with his technique and not peaking too early.

Laaksonen is not worried about him peeking in the short indoor season, but said Dudley has to improve in his technique.

"He has some issues with his technique that he still needs to work on. We still have to practice often and break it down," Laaksonen said. "When a guy like him has so many things to think about, it's hard to keep intensity at a high level. Also, lifting wise, we haven't hit the peaking cycle so we're going to wait."

Dudley did acknowledge that it is important for him to perform at his best during his senior season with the Miners and for him to have a chance at reaching his goal of competing in the Olympics.

"It's extremely important because this is my last season at least doing track for UTEP. It's vitally important," Dudley said.

Daniel Ornelas may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.