May 8, 2004

Denton, Texas - The New Mexico State track & field team slipped back into second place after day two of the Sun Belt Conference Track & Field Championships, in Denton, Texas. The Aggies have accumulated 75 points and are one point behind North Texas going into the final day of competition.

"Overall we are in great shape," head coach Ed Crawford said. "We did everything we expected to do today and more. I'm very happy with the team's performance as a whole. Based on the people we have in the finals tomorrow, I think we have a great shot."

Rachael Cuellar led the Aggies on day two in the running events as she won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time 11:06.63. Katrina Powell (24.22), Shyrell Hobson (24.35) and Celeste Robillard (24.44) all qualified for the finals in the 200-meter dash tomorrow evening. Powell and Robillard als squalified for the finals in the 100-meter dash tomorrow as well. Powell's time of 11.79 is a personal best.

Freshman Sandra Anane won the long jump with a leap of 20-03.50, placing her second all-time at NMSU just two inches short of the school record. Anane did qualify for the NCAA regional meet with that mark and will now compete in both the long and triple jump at the regional.

Robillard ended her busy today, taking sixth in the long jump with a leap of 18-07.75. Sophomore Erin Streater placed third in the shot put with a toss of 45-10, while Tiffany Lightenberg took 13th with a throw of 36-00.25. Emma Allvin rounded out the field events for NMSU, taking sixth in the high jump with a leap of 5-4.

Senior Genea Long gave her best finish of the season in the heptathlon, placing second overall with 4,569 points, as Allvin took fifth overall with 3,869 points and Cristy Woodruff placed sixth with 3769 points.

The Aggies will be back on track tomorrow with the field events beginning at 9:00 a.m. followed by the running events beginning at 5:00 p.m. (MT)

Long Jump

1 - Sandra Anane 20-03.50

6 - Celeste Robillard 18-07.75

Shot Put

3 - Erin Streater 45-10.00

13 - Tiffany Ligtenberg 36-00.25

400-Meter Dash (Prelims)

10 - Laureen Tacite 59.86

3,000-Meter Steeplechase

1 Rachael Cuellar 11:06.63

100-Meter Dash (Prelims)

4 - Katrina Powell 11.79

7 - Celeste Robillard 11.96

200-Meter Dash (Prelims)

2 - Katrina Powell 24.22

4 - Shyrell Hobson 24.35

5 - Cleste Robillard 24.44

400-Meter Hurdles

9 - Cristy Woodruff 1:08.37

10 - Genea Long 1:08.49

Heptathlon

2 - Genea Long 4569

5 - Emma Allvin 3869

6 - Cristy Woodruff 3769

High Jump

6 - Emma Allvin 6 5-4