PORTALES, N.M. – The 2026 outdoor track and field season is finally here. Eastern New Mexico is all set for the outdoor slate and will begin with a meet hosted by the University of Texas at El Paso. The two day meet will feature a heavy presence from programs from the Land of Enchantment. Before the competition begins, please take a look at the 4x4 Preview:

1x4 – From In To Out: Eastern New Mexico men finished fifth at the conference championships, while the women took seventh. ENMU men were carried by three different conference champions at the meet including Hemon Joseph (long jump), Strahinja Radakovic (60m hurdles), and Eloy Serrano Borrego (800m). Between Joseph (10 pts) and Cooper Burgess (5 pts), the long jump proved to be the highest point scoring event for the Hounds. Serrano Borrego (10 pts) and Thomas Aerdts (3 pts) helped Eastern take 13 points in the 800m – the second highest point scoring event for the team. The Greyhound women had four point scorers in the long jump. The group featured Ashley Richburg (5 pts), Journie Alexander (4 pts), Gabriela Elizalde (3 pts), and Celina Thomas (2 pts). The second highest point scoring event for the women was the triple jump with three point scorers for the team. They included Thomas (6 pts), Richburg (4 pts), and Ajah Walker (2 pts).

2x4 – The Field: Eastern New Mexico will compete against student-athletes from New Mexico State, New Mexico Junior College, UTEP, and Western New Mexico. NMSU boasts two all-conference performers from the indoor season. The C-USA recognized Marlee Cavitt (100m – 2^nd, 200m – 1^st) and Alesha Lane (Shot Put – 2^nd) as part of their all-league teams. The Aggies finished eighth out of 12 teams at the conference meet. The men from UTEP saw Juan Leal (Mile – 1^st) and Oleksandr Blomskyi (Heptathlon – 3^rd) earn all-CUSA accolades. The women representing the Miners on the list were Oghenefejiro Praise (Long Jump – 1^st, Triple Jump – 2^nd) and Cydni Martin (200m – 2^nd). NMJC is coming off an indoor season that saw their women's team take second place at NJCAA nationals with a relay championship title, 800m women's title, and 13 total all-americans. The Thunderbird men's squad also took second at indoor nationals. They saw national championships in the 60m, heptathlon, 400m, and long jump.

3x4 – Outlook On ENMU: Both ENMU men and women are coming off a 2025 outdoor season that saw them both take fifth at the Lone Star Conference outdoor track and field championships. Eastern women finished seven points behind third place Texas A&M-Kingsville and one point behind fourth place Midwestern State. Key returners for ENMU women are Devyn Ericksen, Riley Midgett, Minerva Cerda Hernandez, Gabriela Elizalde, Meghan Rodriguez, Meredith Brown, Kennedy Ulmer, and Deziree Bosquez. All were part of the scoring team for Eastern at last year's championships. Devin Gallegos, Nicolo Salaris, Strahinja Radakovic, Byron Pruitt, Brian Norton, Kyler Joe, and William Mclilly all were part of the scoring crew for the men's team in 2025.

4x4 – Looking At The Schedule: The throws crew will be entertaining to watch all season long. The women's javelin will begin the meet on Friday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m. Throwing in the event will be Korah Ives, Kennedy Ulmer, Vivica Addison, and Deziree Bosquez. The first event for the men's throws group is the shot put also starting at 5:30 p.m. with Noe Ybaben-Burciaga, Ricardo Neira, Roman Alvarado, Andre Smikle, and Emiliano Morrison throwing. The Greyhounds will also be competing in the high jump and long jump on Friday night. The first running event on Friday is the women's 200m set for 5:30 p.m. with 13 Greyhounds expected to compete. The men's 200m race will follow with 10 ENMU student-athletes running. Also taking place on Friday on the track is the 400m hurdles, 1500m, and 5000m. On Saturday, the hammer throw will begin at 9 a.m. with nine competing for the men and seven to follow for the women in the same event. Other field events for the Greyhounds will be the hammer throw, pole vault, discus throw, triple jump, and high jump. The first collegiate running event will be the 4x100 expected to begin at 11:43 a.m. with Gabriela Elizalde, Riley Midgett, Journie Alexander, and Ambrosia Francis teaming up in the relay. The men's relay will follow directly after with John Magee, Nicolo Salaris, Jamo Williams, and Abisai Torres representing the Hounds. Other events on the track will be the 100m/110m hurdles, 400m, 800m, 100m, and 4x400.