ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For the first time in 2016, the Lobos stepped on their home track — not only for a competition, but in general as well.
The University of New Mexico track & field team registered a handful of strong performances Friday as it opened the 2016 indoor season at the Cherry & Silver Invitational on the recently resurfaced track at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The Lobos’ jumpers, sprinters and throwers saw the most success on the first day of the two-day meet, with Allan Hamilton notching a runner-up performance in the men’s long jump and Amaris Blount posting a strong showing in the women’s weight throw.
As most of the team — including New Mexico’s top-notch distance crew — continues to ramp up its training in anticipation for five meets in Albuquerque over the next six weeks, the Lobos received solid production from the athletes competing on Friday.
Hamilton, a 2015 All-American in the indoor long jump, picked up right where he left off, leaping to second place in a competitive field with a mark of 24 feet, 9 ¼ inches (7.55 meters).
Close behind in the standing was Yannick Roggatz, who tied for fifth with a distance of 24-2 ½ (7.38).
Blount also highlighted Friday’s activities, as the redshirt freshman tallied a toss of 54-4 ¾ in the weight throw. Her mark merited seventh in the meet, and moved her to third in New Mexico history in the event.
The track events also yielded some strong results on the brand-new Mondo surface on the track in the Convention Center.
Zoe Howell clocked a time of 1 minute, 34.02 second in the women’s 600-meter run to place fourth, and Tyler Valdez captured eighth in the men’s 3000 with a time of 8:58.86.
A number of the other track events were preliminary rounds, with a handful of Lobos advancing to compete on Saturday.
Holly Van Grinsven qualified for Saturday’s semifinals in the women’s 60 hurdles as she placed fifth in the opening round with a time of 8.51 seconds.
On the men’s side, Hamilton (time of 6.82), Ridge Jones (6.83), and Scott Bajere (6.85) all moved on in the men’s 60, while Roggatz advanced in the 60 hurdles (8.50).
The Lobos return to the Albuquerque Convention Center Saturday for the second day of the Cherry & Silver Invite. The meet resumes at 9:30 a.m. MT with the women’s shot put, while action on the track begins at 10:45 a.m. MT with the semifinals of the men’s 60 hurdles.
Check back tomorrow at GoLobos.com for a full recap and complete results of Saturday’s New Mexico action.