LAS CRUCES, N.M-- The New Mexico State women’s track and field squad posted six top-10 marks at the prestigious University of Washington Invitational, Saturday, Feb.2, in Seattle, Wash.
Assistant coach Paul Harkins said he was very pleased with the student-athletes’ marks. He felt that everything went very well.
“We brought them up here to see a higher level of competition and to see how they would respond,” Harkins said. “I really believe that they rose to the occasion and proved that they can compete with very good competition.”
Sophomore Leah Benton (Chandler, Ariz.) led the way for the Aggies, bringing home a fourth place ribbon in the 200-meter dash. She recorded a time of 25.23 which places her sixth overall on the all-time list. She also posted a time of 7.78 in the 60-meter dash; good enough for ninth place overall and seventh place in the NMSU record book.
Freshman hurdler Devin Brooks (Seattle, Wash.) placed seventh overall and recorded a mark of 8.73 in the 60-meter hurdles. Brooks also placed 19th in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.20.
Junior jumper Isabel Chea (El Paso, Texas) posted a personal-best in the long jump, recording a leap of 19-05.25 which is good enough for fourth place. This mark places her second overall in the NMSU record book.
In the shot put, sophomore Jordan Veney (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was two inches short of matching her life-time best mark. She placed sixth overall and recorded a mark of 43-06.50.
In the mile, sophomore Precious Nelson (Whittier, Calif.) placed 35th overall with a time of 5:23.42.
In the women’s 5000-meter run, junior Christina Herrera placed 19th and recorded a personal best time of 18:2392. Sophomore Ingrid Flores also recorded a personal best of 18:32.24 and placed 20th.
In the weight throw, sophomores Jordan Veney (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Randi Grimes (Farmington, N.M.) placed 19th and 21st, receptively. Veneny recorded a personal best mark of 49-00.75 and accelerated her distance in her ninth place NMSU record list slot. Grimes recorded a mark of 48-05.25.
The Aggies are back in action Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Don Barret Open in Colorado Springs, Colo. All results can be found at www.nmstatesports.com following the conclusion of the meet.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
