Lady Texan Track Wins Regional Championship

The South Plains College Lady Texans track and field team won the NJCAA Region V championship Saturday while competing at the Oliver Jackson Relays in Abilene.

The Lady Texans finished with 163 points to easily outdistance second place New Mexico Junior College, who tallied 56 points. Southwestern Christian College finished third with 36 points.

The Lady Texans also automatically qualified for the NJCAA national meet in 13 events.

Danete Wright qualified in the 400 meter dash, the 100 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles. Happy Mary Bacia qualified in the 800 meter run and the 5,000 meter run. Zalayka Ali qualified in the long jump and the triple jump. Jessica Wilson qualified in the shot put and the discus. Dominique Jacobs qualified in the high jump and Shawn Shelton qualified in the pole vault.

The 4x100 meter relay team of Ali, October Wells, Marissa Henderson and Carmen Dennis qualified for nationals, as did the 4x400 meter relay team of Dennis, Wells, Devyn Mitchell and Jacobs.

The NJCAA national meet will be held May 18-20 in Coffeyville, Kan.