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It’s said that there’s no place like home, but for five Lobo distance standouts, Seattle is the place to be this weekend.
Five of the University of New Mexico track & field team’s top distance runners are heading to the Husky Classic in Seattle this weekend as they aim to run fast times at one of the top distance meets of the year.
Ednah Kurgat, Weini Kelati, Charlotte Prouse, Kendall Kelly and Sophie Eckel are all looking to capture times that could end the season ranked in the top 16, which would earn them a spot at March’s NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas.
“The goal for that group is to put them in position for NCAA Championship qualification,” UNM head coach Joe Franklin said.
Kurgat and Kelati have both all but clinched their spots at the NCAA Championships in the 5,000-meter run after stellar performances in the event at the Boston University Season Opener in December.
Currently, the duo ranks Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, in the NCAA’s 5K rankings this season.
But both Kurgat and Kelati are aiming to double up, as they’ll look to earn NCAA bids in the 3000 at the Husky Classic.
For Prouse, Kelly and Eckel, their goals are similar, as that trio is striving for berths in the 5000.
Prouse owns a personal record of 16:03.80, which projects near the top-16 cutoff for NCAA qualification. Eckel’s clocked in at 16:08.09 for her all-conditions PR, with Kelly owning a 16:26.36 PR.
Prouse opens the action on Friday afternoon in the invitational section of the 5K, running at 6:10 p.m. MT. Kelly and Eckel follow at 6:45 p.m. MT. On Saturday, Kurgat and Kelati will run at 5:20 p.m. MT.
The meet is set to be streamed on FloTrack, with live results provided at GoHuskies.com. Check GoLobos.com after the meet Saturday for a full recap.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboXCTF on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!