Red River Athlete of the Week
Written By Rev. Justin C. Jackson

If this is just "Game 2"… the rest of the USCAA might want to buckle up.

Competing on the historic grounds of Prairie View A&M University at the Prairie View Relays, the Lady Stallions of North American University didn't just show up—they made sure people knew exactly who was on the track.

And leading that charge? One name that continues to echo louder each week…

Elina Gonzalez: The Kick That Turned Heads

Sophomore standout Elina Gonzalez delivered the moment of the meet.

Clocking a personal record of 1:00.80 in the 400m, Gonzalez didn't just run—she hunted. That final stretch? Controlled, calculated, and confident. The type of finish that makes coaches pause mid-conversation and just watch.

Let's not get it twisted—this isn't new.

• USCAA All-Academic (2025)
• USCAA National Meet Finalist (Cross Country – Freshman Year)
• Competitor at the 2025 USCAA National Championships in the 800m (2:50.56)

From distance dominance to now making noise in the 400m, Gonzalez is proving she's not just versatile—she's evolving. And that evolution just earned her Red River Athletic Conference Women's Track Athlete of the Week honors.

RRAC Weekly Honors Snapshot

The RRAC spotlight this week featured strong performances across the board:

• Men's Field: Willis Thibeaux (Our Lady of the Lake University) – 7.28m long jump (2nd place, PR)
• Men's Track: Richard Davis (OLLU) – 54.54 in 400m hurdles (3rd place)
• Women's Field: JaDae Freeman (OLLU) – 5.27m long jump
• Women's Track: Elina Gonzalez (NAU) – 1:00.80 in the 400m

Three from OLLU. One from NAU.

And that one? Made it count.

Around the Track: Notables from the Prairie View Relays & Beyond

The Stallions and their conference competitors showed depth across multiple events:

• Jamarric Hammond (NAU) cleared 1.78m in the high jump (8th) and posted 5.85m in the long jump
• Tyler Johns (NAU) competed across three distance events:
  • 800m – 2:32.64
  • 1500m – 4:57.39
  • 5000m – 18:59.79

From around the conference:

• Bryson Mcrae (UNTD) – 6.35m long jump at the Clyde Hart Classic
• Ben Perin (UNTD) – 10.75 in the 100m + relay contributions
• Madison Blanch (UNTD) – competed in 400m hurdles and 800m
• Mia Curiel (OLLU) – 2:24 in the 800m
• Ar'quira Hall (UNTD) – program history mark in long jump (4.64m)

The Bigger Picture

Let's call it what it is—this isn't just early-season momentum.

This is identity being built in real time.

While others are still trying to find their rhythm, NAU is already stacking performances, stacking recognition, and most importantly—stacking confidence.

And at the center of it?

Elina Gonzalez… setting the pace, raising the bar, and making every lap mean something.