Cowgirls Sweep Major Awards, Break Records On Way To Runner-Up RMAC Finish

Gunnison, Colorado - The New Mexico Highlands University women's track and field team delivered a powerhouse performance at the RMAC Indoor Championships, finishing second overall in a deep conference field. Despite bringing one of the smallest contingents among the top contenders - just 14 athletes - the Cowgirls' efficiency and high-point finishes secured their spot as the RMAC runner-up.

While the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) took the title with 157.5 points, the Cowgirls' efficiency was the story of the meet. NMHU achieved their runner-up status with a lean roster of just over a dozen athletes, while by contrast, UCCS fielded a massive squad of 42 competitors.  Colorado School of Mines and Western Colorado, tied for third with 70 points.

Sprint Dominance Barrett, Clarke and Jamieson

Ashley Barrett was named the Track Athlete of the Meet after achieving her third consecutive RMAC sprint double.

60m: Barrett claimed gold with a time of 7.41 after posting an even faster 7.38 in the prelims to better the 10-year-old Mountaineer Fieldhouse record previously held by NMHU's Shanna Thomas.

200m: After posting a blistering 24.02 in the prelims—moving her into the national top five—Barrett secured the title in the finals. 

Patreece Clarke continued her tenure at the top of the conference in the 60m Hurdles, winning her third straight RMAC title. Her time of 8.20 set a new RMAC indoor record and reinforced her position as a national leader. Just 30 minutes after her hurdles victory, Clarke returned to the track to post a runner-up finish behind Barrett in the 60m dash in career best 7.46.

Amoya Jameison captured her first career RMAC title in the 400m, clocking a 55.53 in the final to break the facility record. Her performance puts her on the bubble for a spot at the NCAA National Championships.

Field Events: Campbell Sweeps Honors

Rojrika Campbell was named Field Athlete of the Meet, ensuring the Cowgirls swept the conference's premier individual awards. Campbell provided essential depth across four different disciplines:

Triple Jump: 2nd Place

High Jump: 3rd Place (Tie)

Long Jump: 4th Place

60m Hurdles: 5th Place

Personal Bests

Several Cowgirls recorded collegiate bests during the championship.

Lucia Burba: 

7th place in the Pentathlon with 3093 points - an improvement of over 240 points from her first pentathlon earlier in the season.

Kayci Jo Davis reached the 60m finals, finishing 8th.

Leilani Clark: 200m 

Allyssa Casaus: High Jump.

Relay Highlights 

The Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team - Summer Abeyta, July Lafferty, Hailey Renteria, and Taylor Begay - narrowly missed a new school record.

The 4x400m relay team (Jameison, Misha-Jade Samuels, Barrett, and Lafferty) placed 6th. The race was highlighted by a stirring final stretch battle between Lafferty and one of the nation's top 800m runners from Fort Lewis.

NCAA championship qualifiers will be announced on Tuesday. While Barrett and Clarke are safely in the field, Jamieson and Campbell will need to wait to see if they are selected.

The NCAA Indoor Championship will be held in Virginia Beach, VA, March 13-14.