Lobos Host Don Kirby Elite Invitational This Weekend, Send Runners to Washington Husky Invitational
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Lobo track & field teams are set to conclude a four week long homestand with the Don Kirby Elite Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11-12. The team will also send five distance runners to the Husky Invitational, hosted by Washington, in Seattle on Friday.
On Friday, Feb. 11, both track and field events are set to start at 2 p.m. (MT) as men’s 200m and men’s pole vault kick the meet off. On Saturday, Feb. 12, field events begin with women’s pole vault at 8:30 a.m. and track events begin with women’s 60m hurdles at 9:45 a.m.
The team has hosted a meet at their home track in the Albuquerque Convention Center every weekend since the MLK Invitational on Jan. 22. They also hosted the New Mexico Team Open on Jan. 29, the UNM Collegiate Classic on Feb. 4-5, and now conclude the home stretch with their biggest meet yet, the Don Kirby Elite Invitational. 35 teams and over 600 athletes are scheduled to compete in this weekend’s meet. Among the teams are Power-5 schools UCLA, Texas A&M, California, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State. Professional athletes competing for Nike, Mexico, Guyana, Philippines, Grenada, Puerto Rico, and Omorpho will also take part in this weekend’s meet.
The squad saw tons of success in last weekend’s meet as two Lobos broke school records and four Lobos landed a spot on the NCAA Division I Qualifying Top-50 List. Dunninger broke a school record in the heptathlon with 5684 points and Tianna Holmes broke the 400m dash school record with a time of 53.28 (altitude-adjusted). With their outstanding performances in their events, Dunninger and Holmes took the 11th and 25th spot on the qualifying lists, respectively.
Two more Lobos broke top-50 last weekend, as well. Matthew Larkin earned a qualifying spot as he ran a time of 1:49.79 (altitude-adjusted to 1:49.18) in the 800m run invitational to set him at 27th. With a time of 46.43 (altitude-adjusted to 46.54) in the 400m dash, Jevon O’Bryant found his way to 14th on this season’s qualifying list.
Because of Holmes’ performance in the 400m dash, the Lobo women’s track and field team is currently sitting at No. 20 in the USTFCCCA’s National Rating Index, moving up five spots from 25th last week. The men’s team also moved up nine spots to 50th place.
The Lobos are also set to send five distance runners to the Husky Invitational in Seattle on Friday. Amelia Mazza-Downie and Aliandrea Upshaw are set to compete in the 5000m set for either 7:55 pm (MT) or 8:15 pm. Abdirizak Ibrahim and Gracelyn Larkin are running the 3000m at either 8:35 pm or 9 pm. Kevin Mulcaire is set to run his first event as a Lobo, after transferring from Oklahoma State, as he runs a 3000m at 4:15 p.m.
For the Don Kirby Elite Invitational: Spectators are welcome to the Albuquerque Convention Center for all of New Mexico’s home meets but are required to wear a mask at all times, unless eating or drinking. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the “Tickets” link above or on site on the day of the meet.
To keep up with Lobo track & field, follow @UNMLoboXCTF on Twitter and Instagram.