MW RELEASE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico track and field team received more accolades on Tuesday as the Mountain West announced that Weini Kelati was selected as the MW Women’s Track Athlete of the Week and Jay Griffin IV was selected as the MW Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.
Both Kelati and Griffin earned the honor after breaking school records at the New Mexico Team Invitational on Saturday.
It is the first weekly indoor track conference honor for both runners in their career, and the fourth of the season for the Lobos. Ryan Chase earned MW Men’s Field Athlete of the Week on Jan. 22 and Ednah Kurgat earned MW Women’s Track Athlete of the Week to open the season on Dec. 11.
Kelati’s selection comes after the sophomore set the school record in her first collegiate mile run with her time of 4:33.34 (altitude conversion). Her time was 0.14 seconds better than the previous record set by Sammy Silva in 2015 (4:33.48). In addition, the time ranks as the best time by a Mountain West runner in the event this season and the third-fastest time this season in the NCAA. Kelati went on to win the event by a full 8.29 ahead of the next finisher, teammate Adva Cohen.
On Saturday, Griffin broke his own school record that he set on Jan. 18 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collegiate Invitational in the 200-meter dash with a result of 21.14 (altitude conversion) to win the event at the Team Invitational. Griffin now holds the two-fastest times in program history with his 21.15 and 21.14 times in the event. The Huntsville, Texas, native also holds the fastest time by a Mountain West runner this season, 0.21 seconds ahead of the second-fastest time run by Lobo Carlos Salcido, also recorded at the Team Invitational meet on Jan. 26.
Griffin, Kelati and the rest of the Lobos return to the Albuquerque Convention Center this weekend for the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, starting on Friday afternoon and continuing on Saturday.
Fans can attend UNM home track meets using their New Mexico Mutual Pride Pass, which can be purchased for $50, and includes admission to all indoor track, baseball and softball home events. Tickets at the door will be $5 per day, and UNM students can get into the meet for free with their student ID.
To purchase your 2018-19 New Mexico Mutual Lobo Pride Pass click here.
You may also call 925-LOBO or visit the Lobo Ticket Office located in Dreamstyle Arena for more information.