ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Big-name teams at a team-scored meet? No problem for these talented Lobos.
The University of New Mexico’s track & field team produced a strong all-around showing at the New Mexico Team Invitational Saturday as the men’s squad captured the team title and the women claimed runner-up honors.
The Lobos received stellar performances from a number of events at the Albuquerque Convention Center, relying on four individual titles and 13 top-three finishes as they continued to open their season with strong team showings.
“Great competition,” New Mexico head coach Joe Franklin said. “We had some people compete very, very well. It’s a very lowkey meet but [we had] incredibly fast times. … Across the board, it was a good, solid meet.”
As the Lobos continue to open up their season — Saturday’s meet was just the second for the team and the first for a handful of athletes — the New Mexico Invite gave Franklin and his staff a good look at the team they have.
The UNM men scored 106 points en route to their win, defeating Utah State (104 points), TCU (101), Air Force (84.5), Washington State (81.5) and Kansas State (78).
The women and their 112 points were just two points behind Kansas State (114 points), but ahead of TCU (104), Washington State (85.5), Utah State (58), Fresno State (47) and Air Force (30.5).
“It’s an interesting dynamic at a meet like this because you’re trying to score team points,” Franklin said. “It’s crammed into one day, which is unlike anything we do all year, so you don’t get quite as much rest.”
The Lobos’ middle distance was one area that was especially productive with 20 scoring marks between the men and women.
On the men’s side, Josh Kerr won the mile in 4 minutes, 7.69 seconds, leading a bevy of UNM runners. Also scoring in the mile were Alexander Palm (second place, time of 4:13.82), Graham Thomas (fourth, 4:16.06), Jesus Mendoza (fifth, 4:20.79), Taylor Potter (seventh, 4:23.39) and Chris Graham (eighth, 4:25.09).
The Lobo men also scored in bunches in the 800-meter run, with Kristian Uldbjerg Hansen winning (1:53.78), and Gavin Sleeter (second, 1:54.22), Adam Monroe (third, 1:54.82) and Kerr (fifth, 1:59.29) scoring.
The men’s 600 also contributed with Cheyne Dorsey (fourth, 1:22.18), Isaac Gonzales (fifth, 1:22.72) and Mustafa Mudada (sixth, 1:23.27).
Overall, the 600, 800 and mile totalled 70 of the men’s 106 points.
The New Mexico men also earned scoring runs from Mark Haywood in the 400 (fifth, 48.30), Tyler Valdez in the 3000 (fourth, 8:54.68) and the Dorsey, Gonzales, Haywood and Carlos Salcido in the 4×400 (3:18.62).
In the field events, the pole vault produced a handful of points, with Nathan Burnett and John Harari registering identical fourth-place clearances of 15 feet, seven inches and Jason Atencio leaping 15-1 for sixth.
Alejandro Goldston earned second place in the long jump (23-7 ¼), followed by Tanner Battikha in seventh place (21-6). Caleb Meyer-Hagen also added a scoring mark in the high jump (seventh, 6-2 ¾).
On the women’s side, the Lobos were paced by scoring in virtually every event they competed. The track events were particularly productive, with both the women’s individual titles coming on the track.
Sophie Connor won the mile run (time of 4 minutes, 43.03 seconds) and took second in the 800-meter run (2:13.51), likely putting herself in contention for a berth in the mile at March’s NCAA Championships.
Calli Thackery (fourth, 4:53.21), Natasha Bernal (sixth, 4:57.08) and Kathryn Fluehr (seventh, 5:01.35) also scored in the mile.
Kendall Kelly also posted a huge personal record en route to winning the 3,000 in 10:00.40, with Ruth Haynes (fourth, 10:40.46) and Samantha Dicker (sixth, 10:48.55) chipping in points as well.
Larimar Rodriguez and Hannah Riker-Urrutia went 2-3 in the 600 (1:35.69 and 1:35.89), while Akeisha Ayanniyi scored in both the 60 (fourth, 7.61) and the 200 (seventh, 25.76) and Kyra Mohns placed eighth in the 200 (25.89).
The 4×400 meter relay team of Abigail Smith, Rodriguez, Riker-Urrutia and Mohns also tallied a scoring mark, taking sixth in 3:52.56.
Jannell Hadnot led the way in the field, jumping 42-7 ½ to place second in the triple jump and 18-4 ½ to place fourth in the long jump.
Katherine Whiting took third in the pole vault (12-9 ½), and Shannon Fritz scored in both the pole vault (sixth, 11-3 ¾) and high jump (sixth, 5-5).
Amaris Blount nabbed a PR of 59-5 in the weight throw to place fourth and move to second in school history in the event. Allison Mady capped the scoring with a sixth-place mark of 43-4 ½ in the shot put.
The Lobos are back in action next weekend for the third of four straight home meets when they host the New Mexico Classic & Multis next Friday and Saturday.
Fans can follow the Lobos on Twitter (@lobo_track) and Instagram (@lobo_xc_tf) for information and updates on the team!