NMSU Indoor Track and Field Kicks Off Season in Texas
by NMSU Athletics
Head coach Orin Richburg said that he is excited for this meet so he can see where his squad stands.
“This meet is a great opportunity for the student-athletes, it will be an indicator of out overall strength of the team,” Richburg said.
The Aggies return 24 athletes who competed last season and welcome 13 new faces into the program.
“We have a solid group of athletes returning, both talent wise and academically,” Richburg said. “The new faces will be a good addition to the program; they will mix well with each other.”
NMSU returns junior standout Isabel Chea (
Assistant Coach Scott Fister said that Chea is a great leader for the squad and a gifted athlete.
“She has a great amount of talent and is just starting to reach her potential,” Fister said.
Junior sprinter and jumper Candyce Allen (
“Allen is one of the hardest workers on the team, and throughout her time here she has started to realize her potential,” Fister said. “She is capable of doing some great things on the track this season.”
In the hurdles, NMSU returns sophomore Dayna Galindo (Estancia, N.M.), who was the Aggies lone hurdler throughout the 2006-07 season. Fister said that Galindo is a hard worker and should make huge strides as the season moves along.
The Aggies also welcome freshman hurdler Devin Brooks (
“Brooks is an athlete with a great high school career,” said Richburg. “She is a good addition to the program and I am looking forward to watching her grow, athletically and academically, over the years.”
In the throws, sophomores Michelle Barnard (
Barnard set a personal best mark in the shot put at the Indoor WAC Championships with a toss of 38-4.75. McConnell set personal bests at the Texas Tech Open (2/23/07) in the shot put and in the weight throw with marks of 39-7.75 and 42-7, respectively.
“Barnard and McConnell are two student-athletes that should really take their games up to the next level,” Fister said. “Another very talented new face on the squad is transfer Jordan Veney.”
Jordan Veney (
Assistant coach Paul Harkins said that the distance and mid-distance runners should be ready for the season after the cross country season.
“I believe that the distance runners have the potential to step their games to the next level,” Harkins said. “There are a few returnees that should be good leaders and we have some younger athletes that can really hold their own.”
NMSU is looking to junior Christina Herrera (Canutillo, Texas) and sophomores Brittany Hurtado (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Caprice Bradshaw (Fairfield, Calif.) for continued leadership. During the 2007 WAC Cross Country Championships, all three recorded season-best marks in the 5k race.
Hurtado placed third for the Aggies and came in 30th with a time of 8:07, while Bradshaw placed 41st and Herrera was 45th, clocking performances of 18:39 and 18:48, respectively.
Freshman standout Brandi Gutierrez (El Paso, Texas) had an impressive freshman campaign, placing first for the Aggies in five of the seven races. She also recorded a second place finish at the 2007 WAC Cross Country Championships with a time of 17:39, good for 17th place. Gutierrez was three places shy of earning all-conference accolades.
“There are going to be quite a few teams at this meet that have the potential of being top-10 finishing teams in the NCAA,” Richburg said. “This meet is going to give the Aggies an impression of where we are and where we are striving to get too.”
Results of all the action can be found at www.nmstatesports.com following the conclusion of the meet.
