- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Tanque Verde Today
By the People, for the People
Southern Arizona Track Stars Earn NJCAA Qualifying Marks
Pima Community College athletes Smith and Ugwu post personal bests in 1,500m and shot put
Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:46pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Pima Community College's track and field stars showcase their talent and determination through a cubist, geometric interpretation of their qualifying performances.Tanque Verde TodayIn the final regular season meet for Pima Community College's track and field teams, two Southern Arizona products - Andrew Smith of Tanque Verde and Elizabeth Ugwu of Sahuaro - achieved NJCAA national qualifying marks in their respective events. Smith earned a qualifier in the 1,500-meter race with a personal-best time, while Ugwu improved her national qualifying mark in the shot put.
Why it matters
Qualifying for the NJCAA national championships is a significant achievement for these young athletes, showcasing their hard work and talent. Their performances also highlight the strength of the track and field programs at Pima Community College and in the Southern Arizona region.
The details
At the GCC Outdoor Invitational, Andrew Smith took first place in the 1,500-meter race with a time of 3:55.69, earning an NJCAA national qualifying mark. Elizabeth Ugwu placed second in the shot put with a throw of 13.52 meters (44-4.25), improving on her previous national qualifying mark and moving up to third on Pima's all-time outdoor list.
- The GCC Outdoor Invitational was the final regular season meet for Pima Community College's track and field teams.
- The Aztecs will compete at the Region I Multi's & 10K Championships on April 20-21 at Mesa Community College.
The players
Andrew Smith
A Southern Arizona product from Tanque Verde who competes in track and field for Pima Community College.
Elizabeth Ugwu
A Southern Arizona product from Sahuaro who competes in track and field for Pima Community College.
Pima Community College
A community college in Tucson, Arizona that fields men's and women's track and field teams.
What they’re saying
“Qualifying for the NJCAA national championships is a huge accomplishment for Andrew and Elizabeth. They've put in the hard work, and it's great to see them achieve their goals.”
— Pima Track and Field Coach
What’s next
The Aztecs will look to continue their strong performances at the upcoming Region I Multi's & 10K Championships, where they will aim to secure more national qualifying marks and advance athletes to the NJCAA national meet.
The takeaway
Pima Community College's track and field program continues to produce top-tier talent from the Southern Arizona region, with Smith and Ugwu's national qualifying marks serving as the latest examples of the program's success in developing local athletes.