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Murrie Dodge takes third; one of four personal bests at Desert Heat Classic.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo and Story By Emilio Garcia for NMSU: Courtesy
TUCSON, Ariz. – NM State took to the Grand Canyon state on Saturday for the Desert Heat Classic, hosted by the University of Arizona. Jordan Torres and Murrie Dodge tallied top-three finishes for the Aggies, with a quartet of personal bests scattered throughout an incredibly competitive field of power conference programs and nationally ranked student-athletes.
Track Headlines
Breanna Moss opened the meet on the track for the Aggies in the 100m hurdles, posting a personal best time of 14.03 seconds to take 14th overall, and fourth in her heat.
Jordan Torres posted the only first-place finish on the weekend, tallying a time of 11:10.01 in the 3000m steeplechase, while Murrie Dodge tallied a personal best with a time of 11:36.01 to take third overall – her best overall finish as a member of NM State.
Jhana Downie was the lone entrant for the Aggies in the 400m, posting a time of 54.62 to take fourth in her heat.
Sierra Brewer finished first among Aggie entrants in the 100m, posting a wind-adjusted time of 11.70 (+2.7 m/s). True freshman Jaylah McDonnell recorded a new personal best with a wind-aided time of 11.79 (+3.2 m/s). Sahara Tasker recorded her NM State debut in the event, posting a time of 11.93. After competing in the long jump earlier in the afternoon, Julissa Daniels and Angelina Killings also suited up for the 100m.
Nia Allison led the Aggies’ in the 3000m, taking fifth overall with a time of 9:59.49, her fourth top-five finish of the outdoor season and third completed in Tucson.
Breanna Moss posted a time of 1:01.02 in the 400m hurdles to lead NM State, with Mickaliliah Vassell making her return to competition for the first time since the Texas Relays in late March, crossing the line with a time of 1:02.28.
Sahara Tasker returned to the track for the 200m, crossing the line with a time of 24.06 to take fourth in her heat and 23rd overall.
Marlene Mosqueda posted the top time for NM State in the 1500m, recording a result of 4:42.53, with Angela Korte (4:44.28) and Nia Allison (4:44.44) following suit behind.
To close the weekend the 4×400 team of Sahara Tasker, Jaylah McDonnell, Breanna Moss and Jhana Downie recorded a final time of 3:42.77, taking eighth overall in a competitive field of competitors.
Field Headlines
Aileen Alvarado got the meet started for the Crimson & White in the high jump, recording a best distance of 1.59 meters (5-2.50″).
Samonne Cauley, Camila Garcia Carrera and Kamryn Cadle competed in the hammer throw at Drachman Stadium, with Cauley and Cadle returning for the shot put along with Ellie Breckenridge. In the shot put, Cauley tallied a new personal best, tallying a final distance of 11.58m.
In their first of two events on the afternoon, Julissa Daniels and Angelina Killings took to the high jump, posting identical best results of 4.94m (16-2.5″)
As she has for much of the season, Cameron Hodges competed in the triple jump as the lone Aggie in the competition, posting a best distance of 11.74m (38-6.25″).
Following a lengthy delay to the event, Kylie Rubrecht closed the weekend in the field for NM State as the only participant in the javelin.
Top 3 Finishes
Jordan Torres – 3000m Steeplechase (1st)
Murrie Dodge – 3000m Steeplechase (3rd)
Personal Bests
Samonne Cauley – Shot Put (11.58m)
Murrie Dodge – 3000m Steeplechase (11:36.01)
Jaylah McDonnell – 100m (11.79)
Breanna Moss – 100m Hurdles (14.03)
UP NEXT
The Aggies will take one weekend off to recoup and recover ahead of the 2025 Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The three-day meet begins May 16, from Murfreesboro, Tenn. – home of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
For complete coverage of NM State Track & Field, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateXCTF), Instagram (@NMStateXCTF), and like us on Facebook (NMStateTrackXC).
