Bryan Clay Invitational — Azusa, Calif.
When: Thursday-Friday, April 14-15
Where: Cougar Athletic Stadium in Azusa, Calif.
Live Results: FinishedResults.com
Meet Notes | Heat Sheets | Schedule
What used to be a hectic three-meet weekend to Los Angeles is just a routine one-meet trip this season.
But for the Lobos, they’re looking to avoid routine and hit some spectacular marks.
The University of New Mexico track & field team continues its outdoor campaign this week at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., as it aims for more experience and top marks against top-notch competition.
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| Daniel Lam | |
Now that most of the Lobos have opened up their outdoor season, the Bryan Clay Invite hosted by Azusa Pacific provides the team another chance to compete at large, high-quality meets with the postseason just over a month away.
Last weekend, the Lobos took on a talented field at Arizona State’s Sun Angel Classic, where a number of athletes posted solid marks in the team’s second meet of the year
But, the Lobos’ overall results were more indicative of a team getting into the rhythm of a long outdoor season as they continue to build toward the postseason.
With the Mountain West Championships in four weeks, this weekend’s meet at the Cougar Athletic Stadium provides some chances for the Lobos to bolster their postseason credentials.
Right after the conference meet, the top 48 athletes in each event in the NCAA’s West Region advance to the NCAA West Preliminary Championship. From there, athletes can qualify to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June.
New Mexico’s distance runners will get a taste of strong competition this weekend after a few opened their seasons two weeks ago.
But the Bryan Clay Invitational marks the UNM track debut of Courtney Frerichs, who is entered in the 1500-meter run alongside indoor All-Americans Calli Thackery and Sophie Connor.
It’s the first appearance outdoors of that group, while the rest of UNM’s harriers are taking the track for the second time this season.
Also competing in the 1500 are Natasha Bernal and Emily Hosker-Thornhill on the women’s side and Josh Kerr, Matt Bergin, Adam Monroe, Adam Cotton and Elmar Engholm on the men’s.
Bernal, Alice Wright and Rhona Auckland are also slated to run the 5,000.
Elsewhere on the track, the Lobos’ sprinters will be looking for improvement in multiple events after registering some encouraging marks in their last meet.
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| Kyra Mohns | |
For the men, Ridge Jones and Carlos Salcido will run both the 100 and the 200, while Isaac Gonzales, Chris Kline and Mark Haywood will run the 200 and 400. Cheyne Dorsey and Mustafa Mudada will take on the 200 and 400 hurdles.
The women will see Samantha Woodman in both the 200 and 400, with Hannah Riker-Urrutia in the 400 and 800 and Haley Sanner in the 100. Larimar Rodriguez and Zoe Howell are also entered in the 800 and Holly Van Grinsven is in the 100 hurdles.
In the relays, UNM will go with Sanner, Van Grinsven, Jannell Hadnot and Aasha Marler in the 4×100 and Sanner, Howell, Rodriguez and Van Grinsven in the 4×400.
Out in the field events, the Lobos’ jumpers will get another chance to post some big jumps, with Allan Hamilton and Yannick Roggatz in the men’s long jump and Marler and Hadnot in the women’s long jump. Hadnot and Sam Trigg will also take aim in the triple jump.
Also looking for improvement are UNM’s pole vaulters, with Katherine Whiting and Annie Stirling on the women’s side and John Harari and Jason Atencio on the men’s side
Rounding out the Lobos at the Bryan Clay Invite are Joe Kloeppel and Markus Miller in the high jump and Nik Aston in the javelin.
On top of that, a few athletes will get some competition in at other meets.
Multi athletes Daniel Lam, Samantha Bowe and Kyra Mohns will take on the combined events at the Mt. SAC/California Invitational combined events (which is taking place at Azusa Pacific), and Amaris Blount (hammer throw) and Julian Florez (10,000) are competing at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
The Lobo women enter as the 18th-ranked team in the latest National Team Computer Rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Monday. The Lobo men are 72nd.
Fans can follow the live results and @Lobo_track on Twitter for in-meet updates, with a recap of the Lobos’ action posted at GoLobos.com on Friday night.