Men's Track and Field Makes Strong Additions to Lobo Squad
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s track and field team has signed a handful of talented athletes for the 2021-22 season.
Ethan Brouw | Distance | Australia
Ethan Brouw will start his collegiate career at The University of New Mexico after graduating from Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. In May of 2019, Trinity Grammar School was crowned the International Schools Federation (ISF) World Schools Athletics Champion 2019, ahead of Spain in second place, and Chinese Taipei, who finished third, in the two-day international championships which were held in Split, Croatia. Brouw was named the World Schools Silver Medalist in the 800m after completing the race in 1.54.62s.
In 2020, Brouw marked a personal best in the 800m with a time of 1:51.89s. His other personal bests include a 3:51.81 in the 1500m and 8:41.99 in the 3000m.
Rivaldo Leacock | Sprints | South Carolina
Rivaldo Leacock transfers to UNM from South Carolina and will be a powerful asset to the Lobo squad. Leacock was a member of the Gamecocks 4x400m relay team that qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships with the ninth-best time in the country at 3:06.53. In 2020, Leacock ran a personal-best 48.02 in the 400m at the Tiger Paw Invite to take 28th, dropping his previous Indoor PR by more than a second. That same season. Leacock finished in the top 10 in the 400m four times during the indoor season.
In 2020, Leacock was named an Indoor All-American for his performance in the 4x400m Relay. In 2019 and 2020, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, and in 2020 he was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
Victor Akhalu | Sprints | New Mexico Junior College
The first of those additions is Victor Akhalu from New Mexico Junior College. Akhalu, originally from Ikenne, Nigeria, joins the Lobos after an impressive career at NMJC. While there, Akhalu was a National Champion in the 400m in 2020 and was a 4x400m runner-up that same year.
Akhalu was also a four-time All-American and currently holds a 400m personal-best time of 46.62.
Jevon O’Bryant | Sprints | Barton Junior College
After a dominant career at Barton Junior College, Jevon O’Bryant will join the Lobo squad for the upcoming season. O’Bryant is originally from Rosenburg, Texas. While at Barton Junior College, O’Bryant was a two-time National Champion in the 4x400m relay and has been named a six-time All-American. O’Bryant qualified for the NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 400m and finished in sixth place overall.
O’Bryant specializes in sprints and currently holds a personal best time of 21.50s in the 200m and 46.47s in the 400m. His 400m personal best was set at the 2021 Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational in Albuquerque this past season.
Bailey Swift | Sprints | England
Bailey Swift will be another solid addition to the Lobo squad, coming to New Mexico from England. Earlier this year, Swift was named to the Great Britan U20 Team Selection at Loughborough International. Swift primarily focuses on sprints but also competes in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump. In May of 2021, Swift ran a personal best time of 10.69s in the 100m at the Birchfield Harriers National Athletics League Warm-Up for a fourth-place finish overall. Swift’s best time in the 200m is 21.46s.
At the U17 level in 2018, Swift ranked second in the UK in the 100m. He again ranked second in the event at the U20 level in 2020.
Jovahn Williamson | Sprints | Harvard
Continuing his collegiate career at UNM, Williamson joins the Lobo squad after having a successful career at Harvard. While at Harvard, Williamson earned two First Team All-Ivy selections and one Second Team All-Ivy selection. In the 2020 indoor season, Williamson broke his own school record in the 400 at the Clemson Invitational (47.29) while also placing second in the 200 (21.56). That same season, Williamson recorded a personal best in the 60m at H-Y-P, crossing the finish line at 7.14 seconds.
Williamson’s other personal bests include an 11.04s mark in the 100m, 21.35s in the 200m, and 46.73 in the 400m.