ENMU's Thursday runners make finals at D-II nationals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One day in, and so far so good for the Eastern New Mexico track and field programs.

All five athletes competing survived their preliminary heats and moved on to Saturday’s finals, in the form of Marcus Parker in the 100 and the 400 relay team of Kandace Miles, Danee Bustos, Maijah Mathis and Lateria Slaughter.

Parker, a sophomore, won his heat and took the second-best preliminary time. The relay team, meanwhile, was fourth in its heat and qualified as the eighth-place team.

Parker, the No. 3 qualifier in the 100 heading into this week, recorded a time of 10.38 seconds to beat out Tiffin’s Reginald Thomas (10.56) in Heat No. 2. Parker’s time proved to be the second-best time of the day, as Mobolade Ajomale from Academy of Art recorded a 10.3 in Heat 3.

As for the women’s 400 relay team, Heat No. 2 provided half of the finals competitors. Eastern’s 45.78 put it behind Grand Valley State (45.19), Texas A&M-Kingsville (45.64) and New Mexico Highlands (45.75). Lincoln (44.86), Wingate (45.30), St. Augustine’s (45.40) and San Francisco State (45.45) are the other four teams competing in Saturday’s final.

Friday features three events with Greyhounds competing (all times Mountain):

• Kenneth Lloyd is competing in the men’s high jump finals at 1:30 p.m. He is one of 21 competitors in the event.

• Parker will run in the 200-meter prelims at 3:35 p.m. His No. 2 heat includes Texas A&M-Commerce juniors Malcolm Woods and Rashard Clark. The Lone Star Conference will also be represented in the No. 1 heat by West Texas A&M’s Quinton Sansing.

• Bustos and Miles will run in the first heat of the 200-meter prelims at 3:50 p.m. Valda Kabia of West Texas A&M in the No. 2 heat and Keandria Taylor of Texas A&M-Kingsville in the No. 3 heat are the other LSC representatives.

Saturday’s finals involving ENMU athletes so far are the women’s 400 relay at 1:35 p.m. and the men’s 100 at 2:45 p.m.