Five new qualifying marks highlight NMJC track's trip to UNM
Grange sets school record, Collins takes top spot in NJCAA triple jump
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico Junior College women's track and field team racked up five new NJCAA qualifying marks, set a school record and had an athlete take the NJCAA top spot in the triple jump at the UNM Lobo Collegiate Classic this weekend in Albuquerque.
The 600-meter run saw the Lady Thunderbirds pick up three of those national qualifying marks – Ja'lanna Williams (1:37.22), Quadaisha Newkirk (1:38.23) and Jahneya Mitchell (1:39.28).
Kayelle Clarke qualified in the 200 meters with a time of 25.47 while Gleneve Grange for the second meet in a row set an NMJC record while qualifying for nationals – this time in the weight throw with a toss of 48 feet, 11 inches. In the last meet at Texas Tech, Grange – who is signed to compete at the University of Georgia next season – set the school record in the shot put (47-9).
Several NMJC athletes also improved on national qualifying marks from their first meet of the season at Texas Tech – Micayla Collins (triple jump - 38-5 1/2), Kelsey Shannon (high jump - 5-6 1/2), Tiffany Garcia (400 – 58.82), Jourdan Doffeny (60 hurdles - 8.87) and the 4x400 team (Williams, Mitchell, Marquetta Mapps, Garcia - 3:57.18).
The top improvement came from Collins in the triple jump as her mark of 38-5 1/2 makes her the top ranked triple jumper in the NJCAA.
NMJC next competes Thursday through Saturday at the Masked Rider Open at Texas Tech in Lubbock.