Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

NAMPA, ID - The Aggies track and field team wrapped up at the 2010 edition of the Western Athletic Conference Championships with a fourth-place finish, Saturday, Feb. 27.

With 63 total points over the three days of competition, NM State earned a four spot improvement from the 2009 championships.

"It was hard fought for us, but we are really happy," assistant coach Paul Harkins said. "We had a lot of athletes that came out and performed for us, namely Melanie Clay."

Clay earned second place in the 800 meters with a time of 2:15.54 and was a strong third leg in the 4x400 meter relay. Clay was part of the Aggies distance medley relay team that broke the school record, Friday (Feb. 26), by 23 seconds. In total, Clay was a contributor to 17 points for the Aggies.

Junior Kaitlyn Butts was another Aggie to set a personal best and NM State record in Idaho. In the pole vault, Butts vaulted 10-08 feet. In the triple jump, sophomore Deann Williams leaped to a career best, 36 feet and 9.75 inches.

On the track, freshman Samantha Thompson led the Aggie pack in the mile with a time of 5:03.89, good for fourth in the conference and first in the school record books. Also showing in the mile was freshman Courtney Schultz in fifth place by clocking 5:03.93. Both times exceeded the previous school record set by Thompson earlier in the season.

Continuing her WAC success with NM State, Schultz finished fifth in the 3,000 meters with junior Ingrid Flores and Camille Schultz just steps behind her in sixth and seventh, respectively.

"We have set ourselves up for big things and I think this is a definite improvement from years past," Harkins said. "We are making big strides in the program and we are excited to get started with the outdoor season."

Louisiana Tech claimed the women's track and field title for the sixth time in seven years and Utah State came in second.

The Aggies now switch to the outdoor track and field competition beginning March 19, in Tucson, Ariz.