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Bryan Clay InvitationalThe University of New Mexico track & field team continues its outdoor campaign this week at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, as it looks to pick up more experience against top-notch competition.
Now that most of the Lobos have opened up their outdoor season, the Bryan Clay Invite hosted by Azusa Pacific provides the team a good opportunity to compete at large, high-quality meets with the postseason just over a month away.
“Go out and compete and compete hard and compete well and see where you’re at,” UNM head coach Joe Franklin said of his team’s expectations. “We have people starting Wednesday and we’ll go from there and see how things go. It should be a good meet. We typically run well here.”
Over the years, this weekend has been the first full-scale test for the Lobos. Virtually every healthy athlete will suit up and take on their primary events in an attempt to strengthen their postseason credentials.
And while New Mexico hasn’t had the most typical of starts to their outdoor campaign — including an abbreviated season opener two weeks ago in Albuquerque — the Lobos have started to make strides.
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
“The first meet was a little difficult because of the rain and weather,” Franklin said. “Last weekend, you’re going into a Pac 12 school without much experience — or fitness, for that matter — and I think that we had some good performances. … Hopefully, things get better this weekend.”
With the Mountain West Championships in just over four weeks, this weekend’s meet provides solid chances for the Lobos to gain experience and improve their standing for the postseason.
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 up outdoors two weeks ago.
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Josh Kerr, the reigning NCAA champion in the mile run, will make his outdoor debut at the Cougar Athletic Stadium, running the 1500-meter run.
Kerr could potentially be matched up against Oregon’s Edward Cheserek, the runner he upset last month in College Station, Texas, for the NCAA title.
Also running the metric mile are Graham Thomas, Taylor Potter, Emil Danielsson, Alexander Palm, Kristian Uldbjerg Hansen, Adam Monroe and Gavin Sleeter. Hansen, Monroe and Sleeter will also compete in the 800, while Danielsson and Palm will also participate in the 5000.
For the women, Alice Wright — the 2016 NCAA runner up in the 10,000-meter run — will run for the first time outdoors as she takes aim in the 5,000 Thursday night. She set the meet and facility record in the event last season.
Wright will be joined by Natasha Bernal, Sophie Eckel, Kendall Kelly and Ruth Haynes in the 5K, and all are also entered in the 1500 on Friday. Additionally, Kieran Casey and Lindsay Crevoiserat are slated to run the 1500.
In the sprints and middle distance, Larimar Rodriguez and Hannah Riker-Urrutia are running both the 400 and the 800, while Erynn Caldwell will double in the 100 and 200.
Akeisha Ayanniyi (100 and long jump) and Peri Moran (100) are also entered in the sprints, with Kyra Mohns running the 400 hurdles.
The men will look to Carlos Salcido (100 and 400), Tanner Battikha (100 and long jump), Mark Haywood (400) and Isaac Gonzales (400) in the sprints, with Mustafa Mudada and Cheyne Dorsey in the 400 hurdles.
Haywood, Salcido, Gonzales and Alejandro Goldston will also team up in the 4×100 meter relay, while Dorsey, Gonzales, Salcido and Haywood will combine to run the 4×400 relay.
Out the field events, Jannell Hadnot and Sam Trigg both are aiming to build on productive openers in the triple jump last weekend. Both moved into the top three in the MW in the event and can continue to improve in their second meet outdoors.
Shannon Fritz (high jump/pole vault), Allison Mady (shot put) and Morgan Smith (javelin) round out the women’s field event entries at the Bryan Clay, while Goldston (long jump) and the pole vault trio of Jason Atencio, John Harari and Nathan Burnett round out the men’s contingent.
On top of that, a few athletes will get some competition in at other meets.
Mohns and Ryan Chase will take on the combined events at the Mt. SAC/California Invitational combined events (which is taking place at Azusa Pacific), while Amaris Blount (hammer throw) competes at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California.
Fans can follow the Lobos on Twitter (@lobo_track) and Instagram (@lobo_xc_tf) for information and updates on the team!