Paulo Benavides' one year at UTEP was as special as he hoped, as the senior was named Conference USA's co-field athlete of the year.
The Franklin alum tied for seventh in the NCAA Championships in the pole vault two weeks ago, which earned him C-USA honors, along with Charlotte discus thrower Terrell Adams.
Benavides took a graduate transfer to UTEP after five years at Kansas to vault for his father Paul, the Miners' jumps coach.
He had a big clearance of 17-feet, 10 1/2-inches at the NCAA West Preliminary to punch his ticket to Eugene, Oregon, then cleared 17 feet, 4 1/2 inches at a rainy national meet to finish his career as an All-American.