Emporia, Kansas - The New Mexico Highlands Track and Field Team concluded the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday afternoon at Emporia State.
At the conclusion of the meet, Cowgirls head coach
Bob DeVries commented on the administration of this weekend's event that he felt impacted his team's results.
"Anytime you are at the NCAA Championships, the goal is always the same -- 'make the final'. We made just one out of three, so from the objective view we didn't achieve our goals," DeVries said. He continued, "Track and field is a sport defined by centimeters and hundredths-of-seconds. As coaches and athletes, we accept that about our sport. We trust that marks will be accurate, that races will be fair. I have never left a national meet feeling that was not the case for our athletes until this weekend."
In Saturday's lone race for the Cowgirls,
Patreece Clarke earned her third overall NCAA All-American honor with her finish in the 100m Hurdle finals.
"In the 100H there was a very clear flinch in the blocks and a false start, neither of which were called by the officials," commented Coach DeVries. "The athlete in the lane adjacent to Patreece was eventually disqualified after over an hour of review -- but Patreece will never get back the opportunity for a fair start and clean race."
Despite his concerns with the administration of the events, Coach DeVries expressed his pride in his student-athletes and coaching staff after the meet.
"...but track and field is also an objective sport with subjective evaluations and perceptions of performance and on that level I am extremely proud of this national championship. Our athletes approached the events like elite athletes, athletes who belong in championship events. Much credit goes to Coach Russell and Coach Hemmings for the work they have done since last August to prepare our athletes to perform like champions. We came back with five second-team All American awards (4x100 and 200m) and Patreece picked herself up from the track to earn her third overall NCAA All American honor."
Final NCAA Track And Field Championships results
here.
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