PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico women's track and field opened the 2026 outdoor season at the Miners Invitational hosted by the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). A provisional throw in the javelin highlighted the weekend trip for the Greyhounds.

Newcomer Vivica Addison did not take long to earn the Hounds first NCAA DII provisional mark of the year with a 43.30m (142-1) throw in the javelin. On her fifth attempt, she guaranteed her spot to win the event with the notable throw. Her teammates Kennedy Ulmer (40.05m (131-5)) and Deziree Bosquez (38.90m (127-7)) also competed in the javelin. Both Ulmer and Bosquez have scored in the javelin at the last two conference championships. The trio will be key for ENMU this season.

Jha'Niah Johnson moved from number three to number two all-time in school history in the hammer throw. She closed out the event with a 49.55m (162-7) throw. Her teammate SeiOriana Glass took sixth in the hammer with a 46.67m (153-1) mark. In total, seven Greyhounds competed in the event.

Five Hounds threw in the discus. Kennedy Ulmer is coming off an appearance at the 2025 NCAA DII outdoor track and field championships and began her 2026 campaign with a third place mark and a 42.58m (139-8) throw. Jha'Niah Johnson (39.59m (129-11)) and Paige Fowler (39.24m (128-9)) were among the top three Greyhound placers out of the five who competed in the event.

The jumps crew had a nice start to the season. Jerriana McWilliams won the triple jump with an 11.64m (38-2.25) leap on her fifth attempt and moved to third all-time in school records. Her teammate Ashley Richburg took third with an 11.30m (37-1) mark. In long jump, Journie Alexander now sits in sixth all-time in ENMU record books with an 5.59m (18-4.25) mark.

Minerva Cerda Hernandez broke her own school record with a 3.60m (11-9.75) clearance in pole vault. Her attempt came on the second chance at 3.60m.

Aeriana Langley also opened nicely for the Greyhounds. She took third in the high jump with a 1.65m (5-5) mark. She opened at 1.55m and breezed through the opening three heights.

Several Greyhounds competed in the short sprints. Devyn Ericksen (12.31s) had the best time for ENMU in the 100m. Ambrosia Francis (25.33s) was the top finisher for Eastern in the 200m.

Newcomer Lesedi Anyika posted a team-high 58.86s time in the 400m. Joella Mathilda (5:36.47) was the only competitor for ENMU in the 400m. Elizabeth Lujan-Towles was the quickest Hound in the 5000m with a 20:20.09 run. Devyn Ericksen opened with a 14.38s time in the 100m hurdles.

Eastern New Mexico now sets their sight towards a weekend in Lubbock as they will compete in a two-day meet hosted by Texas Tech, March 21-22.