Jenna Banegas joined her alma mater for the 2016-2017 season as a volunteer assistant coach. Banegas assists with sprints and jumps.
During the 2019 outdoor season, six New Mexico State athletes qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds. Crissey Amberg, Lashira Tremble, and Hannah Smith returned for a second appearance while Keosha Sanders, Camira Haughton and Taniya Mitchell competed at the meet for the first time in their careers. Of those six, Benegas worked directly with three sprinters and Smith in the triple jump.
As a team, NM State posted a second place finish and eight individual titles went home with the Aggie squad. Breaking a program record, under Benegas' guidance during the 2019 season, was Asjah Wallace, who clocked in at 13.72 in the 100m hurdles. Additionally, Tremble came away with gold in the 100m, 4x400m relay and 4x100m relay while also placing second in the 200m, helping the junior earn the High Point and the Outstanding Female Track Athlete awards.
The Aggies finished second at the WAC Indoor Championships in 2019 with seven individual titles belonging to the Crimson and White. With Benagas' direction, Keosha Sanders (7.42) and Asjah Wallace (8.45) set program records for the 60m and the 60m hurdles, respectively, at the conference meet. Additionally, Wallace was named the meet’s outstanding track performer and the high point award winner.
During the 2018 outdoor season. Banegas helped the Aggies to a successful season with Katara Nelson, Hannah Smith and the 4x100 relay of Nelson, Lashira Tremble, Dominique Joiner and Tanisha Scott qualifying for the NCAA West Preliminaries. With her guidance, Nelson capped off her senior season as NM State's record holder for the 200m (23.04) and the 400m (51.98). She also helped the 4x100m (44.66) and 4x400m (3:40.37) relay squads break the program record at the Desert Heat Classic in 2018. Smith was the lone jumps qualifier for the Aggies when she competed in the triple jump at the NCAA Regionals.
At the WAC Outdoor Championships, Banegas saw Nelson (11.41) and Tremble (11.50) place first and second, respectively in the 100m. The duo also took home the top two spots in the 200m with Nelson clocking in at 23.45 and Tremble finishing with a time of 24.15. The 400m had Scott place third with a time of 56.83 and Camira Hughton take sixth, clocking in at 58.58. For the relays, both the 4x100m (46.11) and 4x400m (3:43.54) teams came away with the WAC title. In the jumps, Keyarha Wilson took home second (1.68m, 5-6) while Smith placed sixth (1.59m, 5-2.5) in the high jump. Smith also took fifth in the long jump (5.89m, 19-4) but walked away with the WAC title in the triple jump (12.69m, 41-7.75).
During the indoor season, Banegas helped three athletes take home WAC titles at the conference championship. Tremble posted a time of 7.51 for a first place finish and a program record in the 60m. Scott brought home the WAC crown in the 200m when she clocked in at 24.35 for the race. Wilson was the third title holder Banegas guided as the high jumper notched a mark of 1.69 m (5-6.5) to win the event.
She previously served as a student assistant coach to Orin Richburg from 2014-16. In 2016, she also completed a sprints and hurdles internship with an Olympic training group where she worked with Olympic medalists from around the world.
Banegas received her bachelors degree in small business management with a minor in sports marketing. She is currently pursuing her masters in education.
