ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– For many University of New Mexico track and field athletes, their time competing doesn’t end when they leave Albuquerque.
Whether that is a temporary absence over the summer or a more permanent one after graduation, several Lobos find themselves competing at the highest level, which was the case this summer.
With the IAAF World Championships scheduled for this September in Doha, several former and current Lobos set their sights on qualifying for the international event, others set goals to compete at their countries’ games, some put themselves in position to compete in Olympic Trials and others ran to compete with the best as they get ready for their next season.
Four Lobos have already met the requirements for the World Championships in Courtney Frerichs, Josh Kerr, Django Lovett, and current runner Adva Cohen.
Kerr posted four all-time bests this summer, starting with a world standard in the 1500-meter with an all-time best 3:33.60, and later ran an all-time best in the 800-meter (1:45.35) and in the mile with 3:53.88. This year, he also set a personal best in the 5000-meter at 13:28.66.
Frerichs recently placed second in the steeplechase at the USA Championships to represent Team USA at the World Championships, finishing second in 9:26.61.
Cohen will represent Israel after the current Lobo qualified on time in the steeplechase at the Motonet GP Joensuu meet at the end of July with a 9:38.01, which was under the World Championship standard of 9:40.
Frerichs currently has the sixth-fastest time in the world rankings with Cohen 20th.
On the field events side, Lovett qualified for the world championship in the high jump after clearing 7-4.25 to finish second at the Canadian National Championship in late July. Lovett is currently ranked No. 15 in the world, however ha the seventh-highest leap during the current season.
Current Lobo Charlotte Prouse finished in top three to secure consideration from the Canadian Athletics Federation for qualifying to Doha after running 9:43.17 in the steeplechase at the Canadian National Championship. However, she still needs to run under the qualifying standard.
Kerr and Jake Shelley (1500-meter) will run at the British Athletics Championships at the end of August with sights on qualifying for the World Championships. As mentioned previously, Kerr has the world standard, however Shelley doesn’t. The first two finishers qualify for Doha and the third is determined by the British committee. However, as an additional requirement, the third-place finisher must have the world standard as well. In the 1500-meter, Kerr was the first Briton to go under the Olympic standard running 3:33.60.
Lobo alum Julian Florez will take part in the U.S. Olympic Trials on Feb. 20, 2020 in Atlanta, Ga., in an effort to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in the marathon, after reaching the qualifying time of 2:19 with a 2:16.06 last December.
Recent NCAA champion Weini Kelati ran in the prestigious Prefontaine Classic in late June with multiple professional and Olympic athletes. The rising junior ran the 3,000-meter race in 8:53.89, the fastest time by a Lobo runner outdoors over the 3000-meter distance and would have been the No. 2 all-time time in collegiate history in the 3000-meters if the event was still run as an NCAA event.
Rising senior Kristian Uldbjerg Hansen from Denmark ran in the Copenhagen Athletic Games, producing an all-time PR of 3:44.72 in the 1500-meters. He also ran in the mixed medley relay in which he ran the 800-meter portion. Denmark went on to finish fourth among 24 teams in the qualification round.
Recently graduated Lobo Michael Wilson competed in the World University Games for Great Britain, where he ran an al-time best in the qualifying round of the 1500-meters at 3:43.19. His time was the second-fastest time overall in the field.
While these former Lobos may no longer be wearing uniforms with the words New Mexico across the chest, their presence on the national and international stage ensures that the legacy of UNM track and field continues. And with runners like Kelati, Prouse, Cohen, Hansen, the legacy of success is sure to continue for years to come.