ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico track & field team opened the New Mexico Classic with a number of solid marks on Friday as the Lobos hosted another talented field of athletes and teams.
Against competition that included six nationally ranked collegiate teams and numerous professional athletes, New Mexico posted strong results to open the two-day meet at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
With the bulk of the weekend’s action slated for Saturday, a handful of Lobos still excelled as the team continued to aim for improvement with the championship season on the horizon.
Shannon Fritz was one of those athletes that shined on Friday, as the sophomore cleared a personal-record 5 feet, 7 ¼ inches in the high jump for fifth place. She moves into a tie for eighth in program history in the event.
The women also earned a strong performance from Emily Martin, who placed fourth in the 3000-meter run with a time of 10 minutes, 6.01 seconds.
On the men’s side, Linton Taylor led a trio of Lobos in the men’s 3000, placing second overall in 8:30.69. Jared Garcia took fourth with a personal-record time of 8:34.83, with Jacob Simonsen finished 10th in 8:50.44.
In the unseeded men’s 400, Ben Parmoon set a PR of his own, placing third with a time of 49.06. Bryan Cutler was fourth with a 49.44 clocking, while Isaac Gonzales nabbed fifth in 49.46.
Brent Dionisio added a seventh-place performance in the high jump, clearing 6-7 ½, and Tanner Battikha chipped in a 10th-place showing a deep long jump field, leaping 23-7 ½.
The Lobos return to action Saturday for the second day of the New Mexico Classic. The meet resumes at 10 a.m. MT with the women’s shot put, with action on track starting at 10:15 a.m. MT. Saturday’s portion of the meet will also be broadcast on FloTrack.
Check back tomorrow at GoLobos.com for a full recap and complete results of Saturday’s New Mexico action.
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