Track & Field looks for a fine tune at the Don Kirby Tailwind Open at UNM

Las Vegas, NM --- The New Mexico Highlands track & field program heads to Albuquerque, NM to compete in the 2021 Don Kirby Tailwind Open for a fine tune before the RMAC Outdoor Championships, which begin on April 30^th.
 
A quintet of NMHU Cowgirls is poised to make noise in the throws at the conference meet. Four of the five athletes are former New Mexico high school standouts-- including cross-over from the Cowgirl volleyball program-- while the fifth is a former RMAC Athlete-of-the Meet returning to outdoor competition after a two-year lay-off.
 
Both Saydie Moss (Discus) and Taneika Elliston (Javelin) are currently on top of the RMAC Performance List in their best event. Moss is a freshman from Valencia High School (Los Lunas, NM) where she was state runner-up in the discus back in 2018. After having her first collegiate season taken away due to Covid-19, Moss has emerged as a force in the RMAC throws scene, not only leading the discus list with an NCAA provisional qualifying mark (45.56m/149'-6") but occupying a top-three spot in the javelin as well (36.33m/119'-2"). The top spot in the javelin is taken by Cowgirl teammate Elliston. Elliston, who was named the outstanding athlete at the 2018 RMAC Championships, leads the javelin by over three feet (36.33m/123'1") and is also sitting fourth in the grueling heptathlon.
 
Meanwhile, former Springer (NM) High School teammates Katy Scott and Alicia Arias are doing their thing in the Hammer Throw and Discus. Scott finds herself just over one meter from an NCAA mark in the hammer (51.37m/168'6") and sits fifth on the RMAC Performance List. Arias took full advantage of the competition and conditions at the Texas Tech Masked Rider meet last week in Lubbock, TX-- making the finals and throwing a personal record 35.97m (118'-0") to sit among the conference leaders.
 
Elena Rivera has crossed over from the HU volleyball program this spring and is showing her versatility as an athlete. Recruited to the track team as high jumper (where she is among the RMAC top-15), Rivera reminded HU coaches she threw javelin as well at Rio Rancho HS and wanted to give it a try. Rivera has since thrown a PR (30.18m/99'-0") and is in the top ten on the RMAC list. "Elena is a naturally gifted athlete," says HU head coach Bob DeVries, "If she wasn't such a great volleyball player, she'd be doing the heptathlon along with Taneika."
 
"It's been a highlight of the spring watching our throws group progress," added DeVries, "We don't have the best facilities or the best conditions for throwing, but coach Dunbar and the athletes put in the work every day-- and the results show." DeVries added that new HU Strength and Conditioning coach Myrissa Sanchez has added another element toward the big throws. "Having her in the weight room and pushing all our athletes to add a little more weight, push a little bit more, has made an impact", noted the coach.
 
The Don Kirby Tailwind Open will begin at 8:00 am on Thursday morning at University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque, NM.  
 
List of Cowgirls Performing
100m Dash:
Kadesha Adams
Sade DeSouza
Charity Johnson
 
200m Dash:
Kadesha Adams
Charity Johnson
Reyna Terrazas
 
800m Run:
Alesa Darley
Jackie Gamez
Faith Lovato
Nieves Pacheco
 
1,500m Run:
Faith Lovato
Natalia Marrujo
Anabella Miller
 
5,000m Run:
Jasmine Turtle-Morales
Mia Vigil
 
100m Hurdles:
Beatrice Armijo
Taneika Elliston
 
400m Hurdles:
Beatrice Armijo
 
3,000m Steeplechase:
Anabella Miller
 
4 x 100m Relay:
Charity Johnson
Annie Topal
Kadesha Adams
Sade DeSouza
Kaitlyn Holl
 
4 x 400m:
Nieves Pacheco
Beatrice Armijo
Kaitlyn Holl
Alesa Darley
Faith Lovato
 
High Jump:
Angelina Oliver
Elena Rivera
 
Long Jump:
Kaitlyn Holl
Annie Topal
 
Triple Jump:
Kaitlyn Holl
Annie Topal
 
Shot Put:
Alicia Arias
Taneika Elliston
Saydie Moss
Kaitlyn Scott
 
Discus Throw:
Alicia Arias
Saydie Moss
Kaitlyn Scott
 
Javelin:
Saydie Moss
Elena Rivera
 
List of Cowgboys Performing
400m Dash:
Elvis Mmuo
 
1,500m Run:
John Hall
 
5,000m Run:
Andrew Amor
John Hall
Collins Kurui
Tristan Sam
 
High Jump:
Owen Olney
 
Javelin:
Elvis Mmuo