Melissa Clark Signs National Letter-of-Intent with ENMU Women's Cross Country Team

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University head cross country coach Joel McMullen has announced the signing of Clovis native Melissa Clark, daughter of Ray and Vicky Clark, from Clovis Community College and Clovis High School, to a National Letter-of-Intent to run for the Zias next season. Clark will be a sophomore academically and a redshirt freshman athletically during the 2005-06 academic year.

McMullen and his assistant coach, Matthew Gordillo, have recruited to rebuild and add depth to both the men’s and women’s cross country teams for the upcoming season, focusing primarily on the tremendous amount of talented runners throughout New Mexico. The Zia cross country squad finished ninth in the Lone Star Conference in 2004.

Clark is strong both academically and athletically. She has received numerous accolades for her academic and athletic achievements, including: Clovis High School Most Valuable Runner (2003); 2003 All District Team and State Qualifier; Who’s Who Among American High School Students; New Mexico State University Honors; and National Honor Society. She graduated from Clovis High School with a 3.7 GPA. She works as a volunteer at Plains Regional Medical Center and at Los Ninos preschool.

“Signing Melissa to our cross country program is a tremendous achievement,” McMullen commented. “She was one of the top runners for Clovis during her high school career, and she is pursuing her nursing degree, so not only does she have the athletic ability to help this team contend for a conference championship, but she will also be one of the LSC’s top scholar-athletes.

“Melissa considered coming to Eastern out of high school, but did not feel the program was for her at that time,” McMullen added. “However, she now recognizes that we are a legitimate program with definite goals and methods. She and her family are extremely supportive and excited about her running for us. We are really striving to recruit from this area and throughout New Mexico, and Melissa was a great signing for this program.”

Melissa Clark
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis CC/Clovis HS