FRIDAY RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico track and field team opened the New Mexico Collegiate Classic with three student-athletes establishing personal bests on Friday at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Five more Lobos set season bests, while four more tied their season bests.
Jared Garcia was the highest collegiate finisher in the 3,000-meter run, finishing behind unattached New Mexico runners Jonny Glen and Toby Cooke. It was the second week in-a-row that Garcia was the top collegiate finisher, but the first time this season in this event. His time of 8:13.97 (altitude converted) was 8.18 seconds faster than his previous best time, which he recorded on Feb. 2 last season at the Collegiate Classic.
For the third consecutive meet, Tanner Battikha finished in second in the long jump, however on Friday the mark that propelled him into second also set an indoor personal best. On his final attempt in the competition, Battikha jumped 24-1.00 (7.34m) to move into second after advancing to the finals with a mark of 23-10 (7.26m) on his second attempt. The junior’s previous best was 23-11.75, set at the Mountain West Conference Championship on Feb. 24, 2017.
Also setting a personal best was sophomore Nakala Watson, trimming her 400-meter dash time by 0.2 seconds with an altitude converted time of 1:01.89.
Of the Lobos who set season bests, three occurred in field events, two of which occurred in the long jump and one in the high jump.
Opening up the first day of the meet, Ada’ora Chigbo posted a season high in the high jump, finishing third after clearing 5-10.50 (1.79m) on her third attempt at the height. Fellow Lobo Shannon Fritz cleared the first three bars on her first attempts, but was unable to clear 5-5.25 (1.66m). Her final height of 5-3.25 (1.61m) tied the junior’s season high that was set at the Team Invitational last Saturday.
Simultaneously happening a short distance over in the long jump, freshman Diamond Black continued to improve on her season marks, recording a reading of 17-4.75 (5.30m) on her second attempt to set a season high by 3.50″ (0.09m). Teammate Akeisha Ayanniyi surpassed her marks from last weekend’s Team Invitational with a 16-3.00 (4.95m) one jump prior to Black’s season high result, a two-inch improvement for the junior.
Several freshmen showed improvement in their third meet of the indoor season, with three freshmen either setting season bests or tying season bests.
In the 400-meter dash, Abbi Rael tied her season-best time at 1:00.87 (altitude conversion) and classmate Bailey Brion followed behind her in the standings with a converted time of 1:01.00 to set a season best by 1.89 seconds.
To close the meet, the roles were reversed as Brion tied her season best in the 200-meter dash at 26.86 (converted), edging out Rael by 0.01, which resulted in a season-best time for Rael by 0.44 seconds. Freshman Sarah Smyth paced the Lobos in the event with a 26.23 to cut down her time in the event by 0.68 seconds.
Junior Alejandro Goldston tied his season best in the 200-meter dash as he finished in 22.43, the exact time that he recorded last week.
The Collegiate Classic resumes Saturday morning at 10 a.m. MT with the women’s shot put and women’s unseeded pole vault. The track events will resume at 10:30 a.m. with the qualifying round of the women’s 60-meter hurdles.
Results can be tracked HERE, and updates will be provided throughout the day on the New Mexico Track and Field social media pages (New Mexico XC/T&F on Instagram and Twitter).
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, 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.