Nunez_Tameka_RAF_FeatureNunez_Tameka_RAF_Feature
Athletics

Tameka Roberts-Nunez and Lupe Nunez help Roadrunners sprint towards success

Tameka Roberts-Nunez ‘98, and her husband Guadalupe “Lupe” Nunez ‘00, met while attending UTSA in the late 90’s. Their connection to UTSA came full circle when head coach of the UTSA Roadrunners women’s basketball team, Karen Aston, reached out to Tameka during the university's celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX for women’s athletics. This re-engagement with their alma mater sparked a friendship with Coach Aston and a chance for the pair to give back to the community that had given them so much. Through this partnership and the UTSA Athletics Bold Champions campaign, Tameka and Lupe have been instrumental in supporting the new generation of Roadrunners.

A versatile athlete for the Roadrunners, Tameka not only excelled as a track and field superstar, earning All-American honors seven times and setting enduring school records, but also showcased her talent on the basketball court. Her extraordinary athletic ability took her to the 1996 Olympic Trials, where she stood out as the first woman to qualify for three different individual events in track.

After a year and a half running track professionally and achieving remarkable success, including a place on the Nike international team and two national indoor running titles, Tameka decided to focus on her family and community. She is now a mother of three, with her daughter following in her footsteps as a budding track star. Tameka has also devoted her life to education, spending the last 20 years teaching physical education. She has spent the last eight years teaching at Randolph Elementary on Randolph Air Force Base. In August of 2023, Tameka was inducted into the inaugural UTSA Athletics Hall of Fame class, a testament to her status as one of the university’s most accomplished athletes.

For Tameka and Lupe, giving back to UTSA is about ensuring that current and future student-athletes have the resources and state-of-the-art equipment they need to succeed. Motivated by their deep connection to Roadrunner basketball and track and field, the pair made a generous contribution to UTSA Athletics in 2023. Their gift will help build the Volleyball & Basketball Training Facility at the end of this year. In honor of their generosity, the university dedicated the Tameka Roberts-Nunez & Lupe Nunez Women's Track & Field Lounge in the Park West Fieldhouse to the family.

"UTSA is a university that doesn’t forget about you. It was an honor to hear from Coach Aston after having graduated back in 1998," said Tameka, "The university is a growing school that is great for the city of San Antonio and athletes in the surrounding areas. The more that we have people who will give back, the better community we build around the university. It makes me proud to be a Roadrunner."

 

-Jordan Allen