Smith_Tamia_UNM_Team_Open_Shot_Put_Track_and_Field_ENMU_2024

Track & Field Jose Montoya

Tamia Smith posts two personal bests at UNM Team Open

ENMU women's track and field well represented in sprints, throws, and jumps in Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – It's not a secret who had one of the most impressive performances for Eastern New Mexico women's track and field as graduate student Tamia Smith posted two personal bests, including improving her NCAA DII provisional mark in the shot put.

"It's pretty cool," said Smith when asked about earning top marks in both the shot put and weight throw this weekend. "It lets me know that my training is correlating in both events and I am not sacrificing one event for another. I can do well in both."

Smith's 15.30m (50-2.5) result in the weight throw now ranks fourth among competitors in the Lone Star Conference. Her NCAA DII provisional throw in the shot put stands at 14.07m (46-2) and is second among conference marks and 20th nationally.

"A great PB," said head coach Joshua Harden when asked about Smith's weekend. "She is able to continue to show growth in both events."

In the weight throw, two other Greyhounds hit marks. Allysun Jones finished with a 10.23m (33-6.75) throw and Samantha Medina marked 9.33m (30-7.5).

The shot put saw Kennedy Ulmer toss 12.19m (40-0) and Jones with a 9.47m (31-1) result.

Celina Thomas recorded a nice last jump for the team in the triple jump. Her 10.95m (35-11.25) leap is her third best attempt this season.

Aeriana Langley continues to stay consistent for the Greyhounds in the high jump. She has covered a similar mark over the last three meets. At the New Mexico Team Open, she cleared 1.53m (5-0.25).

The other members of ENMU track and field to compete represented the program in sprints.

Malia Sanchez was the lone Hound in the 60m. Her 8.31s sprint is her second fastest time and bested six DI runners in the meet.

Four student-athletes suited up for the 200m featured on UNM's vaulted track. The singular lap proved to be a strong pace for Eastern this weekend.

Alisha Hayde ran the 200m event for the first time as a Greyhound and finished in 26.80s. Mariana Marquez was five-hundredths of a second from earning a personal top time as she crossed the line in 27.75s. Sanchez (28.28s) and Savannah Romero (28.64s) had season-best marks in the race.

Minerva Cerda Hernandez had a collegiate-best 1:02.76s in the 400m. Marquez posted a 1:04.94s in the same event. Lastly, Romero finished with a mark of 1:05.05s.

"I think they competed very well today," said Harden after the meet. "We are putting things together. We were able to see a lot of good things happen this weekend."

The Greyhounds will get another shot at the Albuquerque Convention Center as they come back to central New Mexico for next week's New Mexico Collegiate Invitational. The 50th anniversary of the national championship track team at Eastern New Mexico will also be honored Friday night after the first day of the meet.

Players Mentioned

Alisha Hayde

Alisha Hayde

Sophomore
Savannah Romero

Savannah Romero

Junior
Malia Sanchez

Malia Sanchez

Sophomore
Tamia Smith

Tamia Smith

Senior
Kennedy Ulmer

Kennedy Ulmer

Freshman
Minerva Cerda Hernandez

Minerva Cerda Hernandez

Freshman
Aeriana Langley

Aeriana Langley

Freshman
Allysun Jones

Allysun Jones

Freshman
Mariana Marquez

Mariana Marquez

Freshman
Samantha Medina

Samantha Medina

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Alisha Hayde

Alisha Hayde

Sophomore
Savannah Romero

Savannah Romero

Junior
Malia Sanchez

Malia Sanchez

Sophomore
Tamia Smith

Tamia Smith

Senior
Kennedy Ulmer

Kennedy Ulmer

Freshman
Minerva Cerda Hernandez

Minerva Cerda Hernandez

Freshman
Aeriana Langley

Aeriana Langley

Freshman
Allysun Jones

Allysun Jones

Freshman
Mariana Marquez

Mariana Marquez

Freshman
Samantha Medina

Samantha Medina

Freshman