Highlands’ Grant Is Off to a Blazing Start

New Mexico Highlands’ Jillisa Grant, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women’s Preseason Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year and three-time national champion, opened the indoor season this past weekend with a first-place finish in the 300-meter run at the Air Force Academy Open in Colorado Springs.

Grant finished with a time of 39.96 seconds. Fresno State’s Breeauna Thompson was second, at 40.04. The senior from Jamaica is coming off a national outdoor title in the long jump, as well as national indoor titles at 200 meters and in the long jump, where she broke a 17-year old record with a jump of 20-feet-6. Fellow Highlands senior Deandra Nelson also finished strong in the 300, placing 10th at 42.60.

In the distance events, the Cowgirls nearly pulled off a sweep in the 3,000-meter run, led by Amanda Ortzow, who finished in a tie for first, at 11 minutes, 26.77 seconds, with Mireia Guarner of West Texas A&M. Highlands’ Tayler Hendren of Belen was third (12:18.39), followed by Ivana Aragon in fifth (12:29.47); Analyssa Garcia, sixth (12:54.48); and Stephanie Gomez, seventh (12:55.85).

Other top Cowgirl finishers included Danielle Vigil, 12th (1 minute, 25 seconds), at 500 meters; Brianna Cathcart, fourth (5:53.30), in the mile; Danisha Phipps, 12th (1.6 meters) in the high jump, and 10th (11.71 meters) in the shot put; CiCi Cordova, fifth (3.5 meters), pole vault; and Elizabeth Robertson, seventh (12.02 meters), shot put.

Highlands is off for the holidays and will resume Jan. 18 at the University of New Mexico’s Cherry and Silver Collegiate Open in Albuquerque.

Men’s basketball

Former Pecos standout Dominick Baca continues to shine for Highlands, despite the team’s recent slump.

The 6-foot-2 junior – in road losses to Western State and Colorado Mesa, respectively – has averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Baca recorded a team-high 16 points during an 84-73 loss at Western State on Friday, where he went 5-for-11 from the floor, including hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arch.

The Cowboys are currently 10th in the RMAC standings, at 1-3, and are 3-4 overall. Highlands begins a two-game conference home stand on Friday, beginning with Colorado Springs. On Saturday, the Cowboys play host to Colorado-Pueblo. Both games begin at 8 p.m.

Women’s basketball

After winning its first three conference games, Highlands lost, 85-51, to Colorado Mesa this past weekend to drop to sixth in the standings, at 3-1 and 3-5 overall.

Junior transfer China Smith started off the two-game road trip this past Friday with a 14-point, 11-rebound performance to lead Highlands in a 67-65 win over Western State. But despite recording 13 points and eight rebounds on Saturday, Smith couldn’t prevent the Cowgirls from getting blown out against the Mavericks on Saturday.

Highlands begins a two-game homestand on Friday against Colorado Springs. Then on Saturday, the Cowgirls face Colorado-Pueblo. Both games begin at 6 p.m.

Football

Highlands seniors Abdul Kanneh and Jordan Campbell have been named to the 2012 Daktronics NCAA Division II Football All-America Team. Both earned first-team recognition to conclude their careers for the Cowboys.

Highlands finished the season third in the conference at 8-3, which was the team’s best finish since the 1998 season.

Campbell, who was the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, finished his senior season with a team-leading 104 tackles and 12 sacks. Kanneh finished his senior season with 67 tackles, six interceptions, a team-high 16 passes defended, and three blocked kicks.