Lobo track & field competition guide – April 6
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Set to host its first meet of the outdoor season on Thursday at the UNM Track and Field Complex, the Lobo track and field team has a full slate of competitors entered in the meet.
The single-day meet will kick off at 1 p.m. on Thursday, and admission will be free of charge. It is the first of two home meets on the calendar this spring, as the Lobos will host the annual Don Kirby Tailwind Open on April 20.
Lobo Track & Field Comprehensive Competition Schedule – April 6, 2023
All times listed are Mountain Daylight Time
Women’s Javelin – 1 p.m.
Keagin Brooks – Lifetime Best: 41.52m/136’ 2.75” (HS)
Alix Rule – Lifetime Best: 20.20m/66’ 7” (3/25/2023 – TTU Masked Rider)
Keagin Brooks got her collegiate career started at the Texas Tech Masked Rider meet, where she posted a throw of 40.52 meters (132’ 11”). That was just one meter off her lifetime best of 41.52 meters (136’ 2.75”). Alix Rule is also set to compete for the second time this outdoor season.
Men’s & Women’s High Jump – 1:30 p.m. (men followed by women)
Adam Giron – Lifetime Best: 2.01m/6’ 7” (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Emily Ho – Lifetime Best: 1.67m/5’ 5.75” (1/22/2022 – MLK Invitational)
Alyssa Magallanez – Lifetime Best: 1.68m/5’ 6” (3/6/2021 – UNLV Spring Opener)
Kora Pettengill – Lifetime Best: 1.46m/4’ 9.5” (1/27/2023 – UNM Team Open)
Adam Giron will look to log his first mark of the outdoor season, while Emily Ho, Alyssa Magallanez, and Kora Pettengill will each compete in the event for the first time this outdoor season.
Men’s & Women’s Long Jump – 1:30 p.m. (men followed by women)
Aidan Quinn – Lifetime Best: 7.05m/ 23’ 1.75” (2/25/2022 – MW Championship) Outdoor Best: 6.89m/22’ 7.25” (5/15/2021 – MW Championship)
Lokesh Sathyanathan – Lifetime Best: 7.87m/25’ 10” (12/4/2019 – Nepal) UNM Outdoor Best: 7.28m/ 24’ 2.5” (3/25/2023)
Zennia Gonzalez – Lifetime Best: 5.93m/19’ 5.5” (4/30/2022 – Mexico) UNM Best: 5.43m/17’ 9.75” (2/3/2023 – UNM Coll. Classic)
Lilee Kaasch – Lifetime Best: 5.58 (18’ 3.75”) (4/15/2022 – Nebraska)
Lokesh Sathyanathan leads the Mountain West thus far during the outdoor season, notching a jump of 7.38 meters (24’ 2.5”) at the Texas Tech Masked Rider. Aidan Quinn will compete in the event for the first time during the outdoor season. Zennia Gonzalez and Lilee Kaasch will each look to build off their top marks this spring, which stand at 5.43 meters (17’ 9.75”) and5.37 meters (17’ 7.5”), respectively, and came at the Texas Tech Masked Rider.
Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles – 1:45 p.m.
Kora Pettengill – Lifetime Best: None.
Pettengill ran the 60-meter hurdles during the indoor season, with a top mark of 9.36 seconds (9.34) on Feb. 23 at the Mountain West Championships. Thursday will be her first collegiate 100-meter hurdles.
Women’s Pole Vault – 2 p.m.
Alyssa Gregory – Lifetime Best: 3.78m/12’ 4.75” (3/24/2023 – Mountain West Championships
Kailey Ludwig – Lifetime Best: 3.34m/10’ 11.5” (2/4/2023 – UNM Collegiate Classic)
Kiara Quezada-Arzate – Lifetime Best: 3.82m/12’ 6.25” (2/11/2022 – Don Kirby Elite)
The trio that led the Lobos during the indoor pole vault season will compete all together for the first time this outdoor season. Alyssa Gregory has the top outdoor mark this spring, at 3.45 meters (11’ 3.75”) which she hit at the TTU Masked Rider.
Women’s 1,500-Meters – 2:10 p.m.
Lauren Bettencourt (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: None.
Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 4:29.34 (6/25/2018 – Eritrea) UNM Best: 4:30.72 (4/14/2022 – Bryan Clay Invitational)
Samantha Valentine (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 4:30.82 (4/6/2019 – Brown) UNM Best: 4:33.30a (4/7/2022 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Laini Cota (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: None.
Camille Jackson (Section 2)
Juanita Johnson (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: 4:36.26a (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Six Lobo women will run in two different sections of the 1,500-meters, in an otherwise light weekend for the UNM distance crew. It will be the 2023 spring season debut in the event for all six of the competitors.
Men’s 1,500-Meters – 2:25 p.m.
Nehemiah Cionelo – Lifetime Best: 3:59.14a (4/1/2022 – TTU Masked Rider)
Awet Yohannes – UNM Outdoor Best: 3:44.93 (4/14/2022 – Bryan Clay Invitational)
Awet Yohannes and Nehemiah Cionelo made their outdoor debuts at Stanford last week in the steeple chase, as they’ll look to continue the positive momentum competing in the 1,500-meters. Yohannes holds a UNM PR of 3:44.93 minutes in the event, which he set last April.
Men’s & Women’s Triple Jump – 2:30 p.m.
Mikyla Harkley – Lifetime Best: 12.57m/41’ 3” (4/30/2022 – Fresno State Invitational)
Lilee Kaasch – Lifetime Best: 11.70m/38’ 4.75” (5/19/2021 – HS) UNM Best: 11.59m (38’ 0.25”) (3/25/2023 – TTU Masked Rider)
Mikyla Harkley and Lilee Kaasch are the two Lobos to register marks in the triple jump this spring, with Harkley entering the weekend ranked No. 8 in the Mountain West with a leap of 12.29 meters (40’ 4”) set last week at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational.
Women’s 400-Meters – 2:40 p.m.
Lauren Fowler (Unat.) (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 58.61 (HS)
Kiara Quezada-Arzate (Section 2)
Second-year Lobo Lauren Fowler will make her track debut competing unattached, while pole vault specialist Kiara Quezada-Arzate is entered in the 400-meters for the first time in her collegiate career.
Men’s 400-Meters – 2:50 p.m.
Victor Akhalu – Lifetime Best: 46.73a (4/22/2021 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Victor Akhalu is set to run his first 400-meter race of the spring, after helping the Lobo men’s 4×400-meter relay squad reach the finals at last week’s Texas Relay’s. Akhalu hit an indoor PR of 47.45 seconds (47.34) in the event on Feb. 3, as he will strive towards the 47-second barrier this outdoor season.
Men’s & Women’s Shot Put – 3 p.m.
Kora Pettengill – Lifetime Best: 10.80m/35’ 5.25” (2/23/2023 – Mountain West Championships)
Pettengill established her lifetime best in the shot put while competing in the pentathlon at the Mountain West Indoor Championships.
Women’s 100-Meters – 3 p.m.
Maria Cisneros Llamazares (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 11.74 (5/14/2022 – Spain)
Alyssa Gregory (Section 1)
Kailey Ludwig (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: None.
Mckenna Watson (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 11.86a (3/25/2023 – TTU Masked Rider)
Alexandra Adams (Section 2) – UNM Best: 12.95a (4/21/2022) Lifetime Best: 12.46a (6/27/2021 – HS)
Adriana Gabaldon (Section 2)
Mckenna Watson has the team’s top mark in the 100-meters this spring, hitting 11.86 seconds (11.83) at the TTU Masked Rider. Cisneros Llamazares is set to run the event for the third straight week, posting a season-best time of 12.60 seconds (12.57) at the Texas Tech Masked Rider. Alexandra Adams will run the event for the first time in her sophomore season, and Thursday will be the first collegiate look at the event for Alyssa Gregory, Kailey Ludwig, and Adriana Gabaldon.
Men’s 100-Meters – 3:10 p.m.
Ayoub El Ashmawi (Section 2) – Collegiate Best: None.
Junior transfer Ayoub El Ashmawi will run his first collegiate 100-meters, after displaying steady growth in the sprints throughout the indoor season.
Women’s 800-Meters – 3:15 p.m.
Lauren Bettencourt (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 2:13.53
Rebecca Grieve (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 2:07.20a (1/28/2023 – UNM Team Open
Maisie Grice (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 2:07.64 (7/23/2022 – Great Britain) UNM Best: 2:09.55 (4/1/2023 – Stanford Invitational)
Stefanie Parsons (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 2:07.44a (1/28/2023 – UNM Team Open) Outdoor Best: 2:09.34a (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Danielle Verster (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 2:06.62 (4/6/2022 – South Africa)
Isabella Fauria (Section 2) – Outdoor Best: 2:17.75 (4/15/2022 – Bryan Clay Invitational)
Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: 2:13.71 (5/14/2022 – Mountain West Championships)
Laini Cota (Section 3) – Lifetime Best: 2:34.41a (1/28/2023 – UNM Team Open)
A selection of eight runners will be available for the 800-meters, with Maisie Grice being the lone runner on the list to register a time in this event so far this outdoor season. Stefanie Parsons, Lauren Bettencourt, and Rebecca Grieve each hit lifetime bests in the 800-meters during the indoor season, while Danielle Verster, Isabella Fauria, Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi, and Laini Cota will make their outdoor debuts in this event after each being part of UNM’s national runner-up cross country team in the fall.
Men’s 800-Meters – 3:25 p.m.
Harrison Smith III – UNM Outdoor Best: 1:56.90a (4/22/2021 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Awet Yohannes – Collegiate Best: 1:52.69 (4/19/2019 – Wisconsin)
Harrison Smith III is coming off a lifetime best of 1:53.81 minutes (1:54.45) running unattached during the indoor season, while Yohannes will look to complete his first 800-meter race as a Lobo since the 2021 spring season.
Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles – 3:35 p.m.
Preslie Coffey – Lifetime Best: 1:13.81a (4/2/2022 – TTU Masked Rider)
Analisa Ibarra – Lifetime Best: None.
Leigh James – Lifetime Best: 1:08.17a (4/22/2021 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Preslie Coffey will make her 2022-23 season debut, a year after establishing her PR in the event of 1:13.81 minutes (1:13.70). Freshman Analisa Ibarra will look to build off a solid indoor season, and an initial outdoor 400-meter time of 59.10 seconds (58.99) at the TTU Masked Rider. Leigh James will make her 2023 outdoor debut on Thursday.
Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles – 3:45 p.m.
Timothy Harris – Collegiate Best: 53.89 (5/15/2021 – MV Championships)
The Lobos will get their first look at Loyola Chicago transfer Timothy Harris, who posted a top time of 53.89 seconds in the event during his career at his previous school.
Women’s 200-Meters – 3:55 p.m.
Maria Cisneros Llamazares (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 24.77 (2/12/2022 – Spain)
Kora Pettengill (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 26.16a (2/10/2023 – Don Kirby Invitational)
Mckenna Watson (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 24.02a (1/27/2023 – UNM Team Open) Outdoor Best: 24.31 (3/31/2023 – TSU Bobcat Invitational)
Alexandra Adams (Section 2) – UNM Outdoor Best: 27.35a/27.28 (4/7/2022) Lifetime Best: 25.88a (6/27/2021 – HS)
Zennia Gonzalez (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: None.
Lilee Kaasch (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: 27.70 (7/8/2021 – HS)
Tatyanah Wiley (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: 25.51a (4/7/2022 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Adriana Gabaldon (Section 3) – Lifetime Best: 28.55 (HS)
Mikyla Harkley (Section 3) – Lifetime Best: 25.87a (4/7/2022 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Alyssa Magallanez (Section 3) – Lifetime Best: 27.47a (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Ten different Lobo women are entered in the 200-meters, across three different heats starting just before 4 p.m. Among the pool entered for Thursday, Watson has the best mark this spring at 24.34 seconds (24.27) which she ran two weeks ago at the TTU masked rider. Cisneros Llamazares, Pettengill, and Gonzalez are the other Lobos among this group to have run the 200-meters this spring.
Men’s 200-Meters – 4:15 p.m.
Jevon O’Bryant (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 21.05a (4/2/2022 – TTU Masked Rider)
Jovahn Williamson (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 20.99 (5/14/2022 – MW Championships)
Brodie Young (Section 1) – Lifetime Best: 22.00a (1/27/2023 – UNM Team Open)
Victor Akhalu (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: 21.32a (5/14/2022 – MW Championships)
Ayoub El Ashmawi (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: 21.70a (2/24/2023 – MW Championships)
Adam Giron (Section 3) – Lifetime Best: 24.07a (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
The Lobos will be led in the 200-meters by a quartet of runners who advanced to the finals of the 4×400-meters at last week’s Texas Relays, with Jevon O’Bryant, Jovahn Williamson, Brodie Young, and Victor Akhalu taking the stage. El Ashmawi will join them for his first outdoor 200-meters in a Lobo uniform, and Giron will chase his PR of 24.07 seconds which he reached a year ago.
Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay – 4:35 p.m.
Mckenna Watson, Analisa Ibarra, Lauren Bettencourt, Isabella Fauria, Maisie Grice, Stefanie Parsons, Danielle Verster, Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi
Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay – 4:45 p.m.
Ethan Brouw, Awet Yohannes, Tim Harris, Matthew Larkin, Harrison Smith III
The Lobos have deep pools of runners to pull from in both the men’s and women’s 4×400-meter relays, which will close out the meet on Thursday afternoon.