ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Another week at home, another week of superb performances.
The University of New Mexico track & field team continued to gain experience at the New Mexico Classic this weekend as the Lobos registered strong results against a tremendous field of collegiate and professional athletes.
Behind their sprinters and middle-distance runners, the Lobos posted a number of historically significant performances in multiple events as they competed in their third of four straight home meets at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
“We’ve had good performances across the board and we keep getting better and better,” New Mexico head coach Joe Franklin said. “Everything’s been great so far.”
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| Michael Wilson |
After stellar team showings last week at the New Mexico Team Invitational, the Lobos looked to make progress and improve in anticipation of the elite Don Kirby Invitational next week and the UNM-hosted Mountain West Championships at the end of the month.
And a number of Lobos did make substantial progress this weekend at the Albuquerque Convention Center, with many moving up and breaking into the program’s record books.
On the men’s side, Carlos Salcido continued to excel on the track, racing to a time of 46.60 seconds in the 400-meter run that ranks second in program history and placed third at the meet. Just a week after breaking the UNM record in the 200, Salcido came within half a second of breaking Olympian Jarrin Solomon’s 400-meter benchmark of 46.33.
Salcido was joined in the event by Mark Haywood, who climbed to fifth in New Mexico annals with a clocking of 47.95 that merited seventh at the meet.
The men’s 800 also produced some stellar marks, as Michael Wilson moved to third all-time at UNM with time of 1:49.69 that placed sixth overall and first collegiately. Kristian Uldbjerg Hansen was close behind, finishing seventh in 1:50.96 — making him No. 9 all-time in the 800.
For the women, Kieran Casey logged a time of 2:09.92 in the women’s 800, good for seventh in the race and fifth in New Mexico history. Larimar Rodriguez (time of 2:12.95), Alondra Negron Texidor (2:13.06) and Steffi Jones (2:13.77) also shined, just missing an all-time top-10 mark.
In the women’s 400, freshman Shalom Keller added a quick time of 56.89, moving her to eighth in UNM history.
Elsewhere on the track, Negron Texidor won the women’s mile with a solid clocking of 4:54.74, with Jonny Glen placing fourth in the men’s mile with a time of 4:18.33.
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| Kieran Casey |
The 3000s produced strong marks from Linton Taylor (second place, 8:30.69), Jared Garcia (fourth, 8:34.83) and Jacob Simonsen (10th, 8:50.44) on the men’s side and from Emily Martin (fourth, 10:06.01) on the women’s.
In the field events, Shannon Fritz’s personal-record performance led the way, as she cleared 5 feet, 7 ¼ inches in the women’s high jump to move to eighth in UNM history and place fifth at the meet.
Additionally, Allison Mady placed eighth in the women’s shot put (mark of 43-10), Brent Dionisio took seventh in the men’s high jump (6-7 ½) and Tanner Battikha claimed 10th in the men’s long jump (23-7 ½).
The Lobos are back in action next weekend for the final of four straight home meets when they host the Don Kirby Elite Invitational next Friday and Saturday.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboXCTF on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!