Drake Makes Program History at Don Kirby Tailwind Open

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —  It took just one attempt at the 1.81m (5-11.25) mark for senior Jamari Drake of The University of New Mexico’s track and field team to make program history in the high jump. The outdoor record was previously set at 5′ 10 3/4″ and had been done three times before, the last time being in 2002. Drake’s outdoor performance earned her first place at the Don Kirby Tailwind Open and is the fourth-best mark in the NCAA this season.

Also finishing in first place on the day was Shannon Fritz in the women’s pole vault (3.80m, 12-05.5) and Abdirizak Ibrahim in the men’s 1500m run invitational (3.46.26).

Three other New Mexico athletes participated in the women’s high jump, including a second-place finish from Ada’ora Chigbo (1.70m, 5-07.00), a fourth-place finish from Victoria Plummer (1.70m, 5-07.00), and a fifth-place finish by Alyssa Magallanes (1.60m, 5-03.00).

Similarly, Kiara Quezada-Arzate and Awet Yohannes also participated in the women’s pole vault and men’s 1500m run invitational, respectively. Quezada-Arzate claimed third place (3.65m, 11-11.75), and Yohannes finished in eighth overall (3.57.78).

The Lobos also claimed second place in three other events, including Gabriel Brown in the men’s pole vault (5.01m, 14-11.50), the women’s 4×400 team (Abigail Bendle, Lauren Chaffins, Leigh James, and Tatyanah Wiley) at a time of 3.59.42, and Aidan Quinn in the men’s triple jump (15.40m, 50-06.25), an outdoor best for the junior.

In third place of the women’s triple jump was New Mexico’s Marthe Roee, who jumped at a mark of 11.50m. Also finishing in third place was Amelia Mazza-Downie in the women’s 1500m run invitational (4.26.54).

Darryl Thomas finished in fourth place in the men’s long jump at a mark of 6.88m (22-07.00). Also finishing in fourth place on the day was Leigh James in the women’s 400m hurdles (1:08.06), Tatyanah Wiley in the women’s 400m dash (58.24), Steffi Jones in the women’s 1500m run invitational (4.29.51).

Similarly, finishing in fifth place on the day was Lauren Chafins in the women’s 400m dash (58.52), Hannah Miller in the women’s 1500m run invitational (4.30.78), Johanna Briscoe in the women’s 5000m run (18.49.45), and Gannon Christman in the men’s 110m hurdles (15.48).

Also participating in the women’s 400m dash was Abigail Bendle, finishing in ninth place overall at a time of 1.01.55. Four other UNM athletes ran in the women’s 1500m run invitational, including Aliandrea Upshaw (11th place, 4.39.60), Samrawit Dishon (unattached, 4.46.92), Brenda Rosales Coria (14th, 4.47.26), and Isabela Nellos (17th, 4.54.65).

The solo Lobo to run in the men’s 800m run was Harrison Smith III, who finished sixth overall at a time of 1.57.60. Finishing in sixth place in the women’s 1500m run was Kyla Fugate at a time of 5.41.14. Carlos Salcido suffered an injury halfway through the men’s 400m dash but still finished in seventh place overall at a time of 47.73.

Finishing in eighth place in the meet was Camillo Dunninger in the men’s shot put (12.58m, 41-03.25) and Brenda Rosales Coria in the women’s 800m run (2.20.03). Also participating in the women’s 800m was Emily Ho (2.30.94) and Samatha Dicker (2.36.50). Ho also placed 10th in the women’s shot put (8.85m, 29-00.05), 11th in the women’s javelin (23.30, 76.05), and 13th in the women’s 100m hurdles (18.92).

Rounding out the Lobo runners at the Don Kirby was Celeste Martinez in the women’s 5000 (12th, 19.46.50), Benjamin Harvey in the men’s 5000m run (12th, 16.12.56), Bryan Cutler in the men’s 200m dash (15th, 23.66) Gannon Christman in the men’s 100m dash (17th, 11.96), and Preslie Coffey (22nd, 28.21), and Jessi King (24th, 29.26) in the women’s 200m dash.

The Lobos will continue their busy weekend at the Drake Relays and the LSU Alumni Gold Friday and Saturday.

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