LOGAN, Utah-- The New Mexico State women’s track and field team recorded a sixth-place finish with 88 team points at the 2009 WAC Championships hosted by Utah State in Logan, Utah, Saturday, May 16.
Assistant coach Paul Harkins said that he was very proud of the way the Aggies performed on the final day of the conference championships.
“It was a good day,” Harkins said. “We were gutsy and really competed. We scrapped quite a few points and scored in almost every event. I am so proud of them.
“Leah [Benton] is a game-time player,” Harkins added. “She did so great today. She placed second in two events and led the relays to two fourth-place finishes. We couldn’t have asked for more. Jordan [Veney] did also did great today and has done great in every meet this year. She is such a consistent competitor for us.”
Junior sprinter Leah Benton recorded a pair of second-place finishes. The first was in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.09 and the second was in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.87, all together Benton scored 16 team points.
Junior thrower Jordan Veney brought home gold in the discus throw after recording a mark of 157-06, good for 10 team points. In the hammer throw, Veney registered a single team point after recording an eighth-place finish with a toss of 160-04.
“Arenas was also very strong, tough as nails,” Harkins added. “Ingrid ran really well too. I just can’t stop congratulating everyone. They really did a great job today. They came out and competed.”
Two Aggies placed within the top six in the 5000-meter run. Placing third was junior Ingrid Flores with a time of 18:00.61, good for six points. Sophomore distance runner Amy Arenas was sixth with a time of 18:21.18 and good for three points.
In the 100-meter hurdles, sophomore hurdler Devin Brooks placed fifth with a time of 14.07, which added four additional team points.
Junior Corissa Hutchinson placed sixth and added three team points in the hammer throw after recording a launch of 149-07.
Freshman jumper Jasmine Tucker placed eighth in the triple jump after recording a leap of 37-09.50 and scored a single team point.
In the 800-meter run, a pair of Aggies scored six points. Freshman sprinter Melanie Clay posted four team points after registering a fifth-place finish with a time of 2:17.78 and sophomore Rayanna Fernandez claimed two points after placing seventh in a time of 2:24.98.
Freshman Jordan Wood placed sixth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:06.67, good for three points.
Junior distance runner Brittany Hurtado placed sixth in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4:46.24.
In the 4x100-meter relay, NM State claimed fourth after recording a time of 46.38, equaling five team points. Running the first leg of the race was Brooks, who handed the baton off to Benton, who gave it to Anane and anchoring the race was Cleveland.
In 4x400-meter run the Aggies placed fifth with a time of 3:48.96, which scored four team points. Running the first leg was Katherine Beach, the second leg was Benton, the third leg was Anane and freshman Derrhea Mcliechey ran fourth for the Aggies.
Louisiana Tech brought home the crown with 150 points. Nevada was second with 128.5 points, Fresno State was third with 119 points, Utah State was fourth with 112.50, Hawai’i was fifth was fifth with 105.5 points. NM State was sixth with 88 points, Idaho was seventh with 58 points and Boise State was eighth with 54.5 points.
“We beat two teams this year and hopefully we beat more next year,” Harkins said. “We ended the season on a high note and that’s exactly what we wanted to do.”
For majority of the Aggies the season has come to an end, but for Veney Hutchinson and Anane the season is still alive. The trio is going to compete at the 2009 Midwest Regional, Friday, May 29 through Saturday, May 30 in Norman, Okla.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
