ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It might have been the first day of the first meet of the year, but the Lobos looked to be ahead of the curve to start 2017.
The University of New Mexico track & field team shined Friday to kick off the Cherry & Silver Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center, riding strong performances from a number of athletes in its season-opening meet.
Behind superb marks from their jumpers and 600-meter runners — including 16 top-10 finishes in Friday’s events alone — the Lobos started their 2017 campaign off on the right foot against some solid competition.
As most of the team continues to train in anticipation for five meets in Albuquerque over the next six weeks, the Lobos that competed Friday posted some strong results. New Mexico’s freshmen looked especially strong, tallying seven top-10 marks in their first meet as Lobos.
On the men’s side, the Lobos tallied a handful of exceptional results, especially in the long jump, pole vault and 600.
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| Daniel Lam |
In the long jump, Ryan Chase led three top-10 finishers, leaping a new personal record of 23 feet, 10 ¾ inches to place third. Freshmen Tanner Battikha (fourth place, mark of 23-8 ¼) and Alejandro Goldston (sixth, 23-6 ¼) also notched solid marks in their UNM debuts.
The pole vault had four top-10 marks, with three Lobos setting new personal records.
Daniel Lam cleared a personal-best 16-6 ¾ to place fourth, moving a quarter inch from breaking into the program’s all-time top-10 list. Freshman Nathan Burnett also logged a PR, clearing 16 ¾ for eighth place, while Jason Atencio and John Harari (who PR’d) both reached 15-7 to place ninth and 10th, respectively.
Freshman Caleb Meyer-Hagen claimed another top-10 finish in the high jump, clearing 6-2 ¾.
The Lobos also rolled to some stellar times in a very fast 600 that saw UTEP’s Emmanuel Korir set the world best at 1:14.97.
For New Mexico, Mark Haywood ran a strong fourth-place time of 1:19.31, moving to third in New Mexico history in the event. Freshmen Gavin Sleeter (fifth, 1:20.36) and Kristian Uldbjerg Hansen (seventh, 1:20.94) moved to fifth and ninth all-time at UNM.
Adam Monroe also placed top 10, finishing 10th in 1:21.29.
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| Hannah Riker-Urrutia |
On the women’s side, Hannah Riker-Urrutia (third, 1:35.37) and Larimar Rodriguez (fifth, 1:37.05) rolled in the 600, as both climbed up in the all-time rankings. Riker-Urrutia is now fifth in program history, while Rodriguez is sixth.
Amaris Blount continued to deliver strong results in the weight throw, recording a hurl 56-11 ½ for fifth place. Freshman Shannon Fritz cleared 5-3 in the high jump to nab sixth place.
A few of the other track events were preliminary rounds, with a couple of Lobos advancing to compete on Saturday.
In the men’s 60 dash, Erik Cisneros ran 6.87 (a PR and ninth all-time at UNM) to advance, while Parker Jones ran 8.94 in the 60 hurdles to move on.
Kyra Mohns also moved on the finals in the women’s 60 hurdles, running 9.07.
The Lobos return to the Albuquerque Convention Center Saturday for the second day of the Cherry & Silver Invite. The meet resumes at 10 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.
Fans can follow the Lobos on Twitter (@lobo_track) and Instagram (@lobo_xc_tf) for information and updates on the team!