Terra Brown Signs National Letter-of-Intent with ENMU Women’s Cross Country Team

PORTALES, N.M. — Cross country runner Terra Brown from Gallup High School in Gallup, N.M., has signed a National Letter-of-Intent to run for Eastern New Mexico University, ENMU Head Coach Joel McMullen announced today. Brown will be a freshman for the Zias during the 2006-07 academic year. She is the daughter of Eddie Brown of Smith Lake, N.M., and Sandra Gambler of San Carlos, Ariz.

McMullen, in an effort to restore the ENMU cross country program to national prominence, has recruited to add depth to Eastern’s strong core of student-athletes on both the men’s and women’s cross country teams. He has focused primarily on talented runners throughout New Mexico.

The ENMU women’s cross country squad, with only one senior on the team this past fall, finished seventh out of 12 teams at the Lone Star Conference Championships. The Zias earned Academic All-American status for their efforts in the classroom. ENMU was one of only three teams in the LSC to receive the award.

Brown is strong both academically and athletically. She is in the top 20% of her high school graduating class and has received numerous accolades for her academic and athletic achievements. She achieved the fourth-fastest time among senior cross country runners at the New Mexico State Championships this past fall. As a senior at Gallup HS, she was chosen All-State and All-District. She also received the Navajo Times All-Area and All-State Awards and was selected as a Cross Country All-American by USA Track & Field. She placed in the Top 25 of the Kinney Foot Locker Senior Race.

“I specifically targeted Gallup High School and the student-athletes in that part of New Mexico because of their strong running programs, McMullen said. “We signed Krista Monaghan to our cross country program last year, and I know that Terra will bring the same attitude, work ethic and joy that Krista has.

“She was one of the very best runners in the entire state last fall,” McMullen commented regarding Brown, “and she will add depth to our young and blossoming group of harriers. Gallup High School and Coach Martinez continue to turn out some of the most outstanding distance runners in this state. Our program is blessed to have a good relationship with them. Terra will come in next fall and immediately help this team contend for the top three spots in the conference and for the top ten in the NCAA South Central Region.”