FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Eastern New Mexico women's track and field posted seven personal best marks at the Friday Night Axe 'Em Open hosted by Northern Arizona University.

"Having personal best this early on in this season shows they were able to get in the work over Christmas break," said head coach Joshua Harden when asked about the importance of earning PR's at the first meet of the calendar year. "We are able to build upon some of the performances."

The Greyhounds saw top marks from Tamia Smith, Jha'Niah Johnson, Celina Thomas, Meghan Rodriguez, Mariana Marquez, and Ambrosia Francis.

Sophomore Meghan Rodriguez is one of the most improved sprinters for ENMU as she met two personal best marks for the team. She earned a top-30 finish in the 200m with a 26.98s time. In the 400m, she paced ahead of the competition to earn a top-five result after crossing the line in 1:00.46s.

The throws squad managed the competition well. Smith and Johnson made the most of the preliminary portion of the weight throw. Smith earned her best mark at 14.97m (49-1.5) ranking fourth in the school record books. Johnson is off to an excellent start during her sophomore campaign with a 13.5m (44-3.5) toss.

One freshman to watch out for is Celina Thomas. The jumps specialist earned a PR with a 5.19m (17-0.5) mark in the long jump and followed it up with a top-ten place in the triple jump leaping 11.03m (36-2.25).

Francis made the most of her 200m sprint finishing in 26.78s and the final personal best result came from Marquez who completed the 400m in 1:04.45.

At nearly 7,000 feet in altitude, the environment was a change for several Greyhounds over the course of the day.

The 200m saw a sixth place result for Helena Klutsey-Carboo as she holds the 63^rd fastest time in DII with a 25.58s sprint. The first-year Hound also posted a 7.91s run in the 60m to place within the middle half of the competition.

Senior Kaylyn De la Rosa began her 2023-24 track and field season with the 41st quickest time among DII runners in the 600m crossing the finish in 1:48.59.

Another positive mark for Eastern came from newcomer Aeriana Langley who almost didn't clear her second height of the day. Instead, she successfully made it over the bar on the third try and cleared the next height directly afterwards before finishing out the day by not clearing the next height. The clearance for Langley marked 1.52m (4-11.75). Five different student-athletes did not make past that height.

The last event for ENMU on the night was the shot put. Smith advanced to the finals with a 13.35m (43-9.75) toss. She was the only thrower to not get marked for a foul during her six attempts on the evening. Her teammate Kennedy Ulmer snuck into the finals with a 12.31m (40-4.75) throw. The two are coming off a season where they both placed at the conference championship meet.

For all results, please click here.