ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — At three meets with thousands of athletes, a number of Lobos rose to the top.
The University of New Mexico’s track and field team registered strong marks at three meets this weekend, as they competed at the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Beach Invitational.
The Lobos received standout performances from a number of individuals on the three-meet trip to Southern California, as the team continued to gain experience at the midway point of its outdoor campaign.
With the postseason approaching, a handful of Lobos started to make their moves and pick up progress and they climbed the descending order lists. Such movement is key for New Mexico in regards to gaining experience and qualifying athletes to the national championships.
The top 48 athletes in each event in the NCAA’s West Region advance to the NCAA West Preliminary Championship, which is the qualifying meet for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June.
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| Calli Thackery |
And, during this weekend’s annual trip to the Los Angeles area, the Lobos put a number of athletes into postseason position.
Not only did a handful the distance runners make strides to postseason qualification, but some jumpers added to the credentials, as well.
At Friday’s Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., New Mexico’s distance runners tallied some of the most outstanding results of the weekend.
Peter Callahan was one of the Lobos to make his case for the postseason, running a time of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds in the 1500-meter run. He took fourth in the event.
In the women’s 1500, Sophie Connor also staked her claim, running a time of 4:22.40 (good for ninth in school history), while Tamara Armoush ran 4:23.28 for 10th place.
Nicola Hood won the 3000 steeplechase with a new collegiate best of 10:25.59, ahead of Nicole Roberts, who finished fourth in 10:41.54.
Alex Herring broke the meet record in the 800 with a winning time of 1:49.71, while Zac Castillo ran to 11th in the 5000 (time of 14:36.37).
However, a few Lobo harriers registered strong times at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., including a sizzling time by Calli Thackery in the 5000. Thackery ran to eighth in the event filled with professionals, and crossed the line in 15:42.57 — the second-fastest time ever at UNM.
The 10000 also produced some strong times, with Anna Burton running 35:33.76 to place 16th in her section and Julian Florez racing to a time of 29:33.71 to take 11th in his section.
New Mexico’s sprinters and jumpers also captured more nationally relevant times at both the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Mt. SAC Relays.
At the Bryan Clay Invite, Allan Hamilton set a new collegiate best in the long jump, leaping 25 feet, 6 ½ inches to place second overall (and first collegiately). Yannick Roggatz was 10th in the event with a mark of 23-6 ½.
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| Allan Hamilton |
Triple jumpers Jannell Hadnot and Yeshemabet Turner also produced good marks, with Hadnot leaping 41-11 ¼ for second place and Turner flying 38-9 for 12th.
Scott Bajere was sixth in the 100 (10.79), while Beau Clafton (eighth place, 189-5) led the Lobos’ contingent in the javelin, which included Marcus Simon (ninth, 189-2) and Michael Ellis (11th, 183-6).
The Mt. SAC Relays saw New Mexico’s pole vaulter perform well, with Logan Pflibsen (second, 17 ¾) and Annie Stirling (seventh, 12-3 ½).
UNM’s 4×400 meter relay teams also shined. The women’s squad of Haley Sanner, Zoe Howell, Faith Cobb and Holly Van Grinsven placed 13th with a time of 3:45.29 (good for sixth in school history), while the men’s team of Mark Haywood, Chris Kline, Mustafa Mudada and Charles Lewis took ninth in 3:13.07.
Multi athletes Daniel Lam and Kyra Mohns posted solid marks, as well. Lam was 13th in the decathlon (6,598 points), Mohns 15th in the heptathlon (4,873 points).
On Saturday, most of the Lobos sprinters and jumpers came back to compete at the Long Beach State Invitational in Norwalk, Calif.
Herring took second in the 1500 (3:44.95), while Elmar Engholm placed 12th in the 800 (1:50.48). Lewis finished sixth in the 400 hurdles (52.75), ahead of Mudada in 12th (54.23).
On the women’s side, the 4×100 relay team of Erynn Caldwell, Brittany Myricks, Peri Moran and Turner placed fourth in 47.17, and Van Grinsven was fifth in the 400 with a time of 55.11.
In the field, Stirling took 13th in the pole vault (12-6 ¼).
The Lobos will head back to California next weekend as they compete at the Triton Invitational next Saturday in La Jolla, Calif.