Tara Shields Class: Freshman Hometown: Spearman, Texas High School: Spearman Height: 5-6 Major: Sports and Exercise Science

General: Shields is an experienced runner who brings hard work and dedication to the Lady Buffs.

2008: Shields competed in the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. on Oct. 4. She finished 106^th with a run of 22:22. The West Texas A&M women's cross country team, placed second among six teams competing at the Incarnate Word Cardinal Invitational, held Sept. 27 at Live Oak City Park in San Antonio. Shields finished 17^th with a run of 26:47.5. The West Texas A&M women's cross country team won the overall team championship at the Abilene Christian Cross Country Classic, held Sept. 6 on the Sherrod Park course in Abilene. Shields finished 17^th with a run of 21:10.40.

2007: Shields competed in the 2A state cross country meet, where she placed second.

High School: Shields attended Spearman High where she ran for coach Nan Coole. She placed 5^th at the state meet in cross country and ran on the All State team. Shields was a district champion in track. She graduated in the top ten percent of her class and was a member of the National Honor Society. She lettered two years in basketball and played on the All District team.