ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s track & field team climbed to No. 23 in the nation in the most recent edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national rankings released Monday.
At No. 23, the women’s team achieved a program-best in the national rankings, eclipsing the previous best of 25th from last year. It’s just the second week in program history that the Lobo women were ranked top-25.
The USTFCCCA rankings, based on athletes’ performances in events during the season, credit the Lobos with 36.37 points, with a significant portion coming from the distance events and the distance medley relay team.
Calli Thackery contributed 13.65 total points to New Mexico’s tally, with 13.42 coming from her school-record and fifth-ranked time of 9 minutes. 3.59 seconds in the 3,000-meter run. Another 0.23 points come from her time of 4:39.32 in the mile.
Sophie Connor added 8.70 points with her performance in the mile, as her time of 4:36.37 ranks eighth in the NCAA.
Connor, Thackery, Emily Hosker-Thornhill and Holly Van Grinsven also combined for the nation’s seventh-best distance medley relay time of 11:01.86, which added 9.45 points.
Rounding out the Lobos’ ledger is Jannell Hadnot’s school record-tying mark of 43 feet, 2 ½ inches in the triple jump, which contributes 4.57 points.
The Lobos are back in action this Thursday through Saturday as they aim to defend their conference titles when they host the Mountain West Indoor Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center.