BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sophie Connor advanced to the finals of the women’s mile as the University of New Mexico track & field team opened competition at the 2016 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday.
Connor, a senior out of Hertfordshire, England, won her preliminary heat of the mile with a strong time of 4 minutes, 37.67 seconds at the Birmingham CrossPlex, securing her spot in tomorrow’s 10-athlete final.
The Lobo women, competing a program-record three individuals and a relay team, are in position to notch a scoring effort at the national championships for an unparalleled second straight year.
Connor got the Lobos off to a quick start as she clocked the sixth-fastest mile time in New Mexico history. Her mark was just seconds off her personal record of 4:36.37, and it makes her the second Lobo ever to make the mile finals, joining 2015 All-American Sammy Silva.
Racing in the first of two preliminary heats, Connor ran in fifth place through the first 800 meters of the race, making her push on the second lap via a pair of race-leading 200-meter splits at 1000 meters and 1200 meters.
At the bell lap, Connor was in second place, right off the shoulder of Andrea Keklak from Georgetown. Connor split 32.30 for the last 200, just edging Keklak, Clemson’s Grace Barnett and Oklahoma State’s Kaela Edwards for the heat victory.
Her time was sixth overall when combined with the first heat, but nonetheless merited a spot in the finals.
The only other event to go final Friday for UNM was the women’s distance medley relay team, which placed 12th in 11:30.67. The foursome of Emily Hosker-Thornhill, Holly Van Grinsven, Zoe Howell and Calli Thackery combined to run the fifth-fastest DMR time in school history.
It’s the second straight year New Mexico qualified a DMR to the NCAA Championships. Last year, the Lobos took 10th.
New Mexico will conclude action tomorrow with Connor in the mile finals at 3:10 p.m. MT, Jannell Hadnot in the triple jump at 4 p.m. MT and Thackery in the 3000-meter run finals at 5:25 p.m. MT.
Live results will be available on FlashResults.com and the meet will be streamed live on ESPN3 starting at 2:55 p.m. MT.