Griffin Breaks UNM Record on First Night of MLK Invitational
FRIDAY RESULTS | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PHOTO GALLERY
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The indoor track and field season started off with a record night for The University of New Mexico Lobos on Friday night at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Jay Griffin IV broke a school record behind a 200-meter time of 21.08 (an altitude conversion of 21.15, which was 0.21 seconds faster than fellow Lobo teammate Carlos Salcido who previously held the top time), which allowed Griffin to finish as the top collegiate runner in the event.
The Lobos produced a victory and three runner-up finishes to accompany the school record on the first night of competition at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collegiate Invitational. Ryan Chase set a personal best in the long jump with a mark of 24-3.50 (7.40m) to earn his first collegiate win in the event and break into the school’s all-time top 10 at 10th.
Finishing behind Chase in the long jump was Tanner Battikha, jumping to a mark of 23-10.75 (7.28m), giving UNM a 1-2 finish.
On the women’s side, Ada’ora Chigbo led the Lobos with a second-place finish in the high jump, reaching a height of 5-5.25 (1.66m) to finish tied for second.
The track portion on the first day resulted in a Lobo runner earning a spot in the all-time top 10, and four Lobos running under 22.50 in the 200-meter dash.
Ben Parmoon ran 1:20.10 in the 600-meter run, a time that earned the runner a place in the program’s all-time top 10 with the seventh-fastest time overall and fifth-fastest individual performance.
While Griffin was the highlight of the 200-meter run, fellow Lobos Elijah Lilly (22.16) and Isaac Cole (22.27) each won their heats with times under 22.50. Jameel Austin finished second in his heat behind former Lobo Mark Haywood in his first collegiate race, crossing the line at 22.45.
With an altitude conversion of 21.15, this marks a UNM indoor school record in the 200m. #GoLobos https://t.co/Kg6s5cPkCj
— New Mexico XC/T&F (@UNMLoboXCTF) January 19, 2019
The Lobos resume competition Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. MT with the women’s shot put, followed by the qualifying round of the women’s 60-meter hurdles at 10 a.m.