Lobo track & field competition guide – April 13-15

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Set for another busy weekend on the road, the New Mexico track and field program has athletes entered in three different meets in California and Florida.

The Lobos are set to compete in the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., and will also send a relay team to the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut Calif. UNM’s men’s sprinters will be in action at the Tom Jones Memorial, hosted by the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Women’s Heptathlon (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 9 a.m.
Victoria Plummer – Lifetime Best: 4,498 Points (3/31/2023 – Texas State Bobcat Invitational)

Havin already established PRs in the heptathlon this spring and the pentathlon during the indoor season, Victoria Plummer will look to keep the momentum going with another multi-event performance this weekend. The two-day heptathlon kicks off first thing Thursday morning in California.

Women’s 3,000-Meter Steeple Chase (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 7:45 p.m.
Maisie Grice – Lifetime Best: 10:04.91 (5/28/2022 – Belgium)
Elise Thorner – Lifetime Best: 9:32.42 (4/29/2022 – Payton Jordan Invitational)
Samantha Valentine – Lifetime Best: 10:18.14 (5/12/2022 – MW Championships)

Elise Thorner holds the top time among the trio of Lobos set to compete in the steeple chase, and she was an All-American last spring finishing fifth in the country in 9:33.99 minutes. Maisie Grice is set to compete in the event for the first time as a Lobo, and Samantha Valentine will make her season debut in the event after hitting a PR of 10:18.14 minutes at last year’s Mountain West Championships. If they can run near their personal bests, all three have a chance to land in the top-five among Mountain West runners this season.

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeple Chase (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 9:15 p.m.
Nehemiah Cionelo – Lifetime Best: 9:11.46 (5/12/2022 – MW Championships)

Like Valentine, Nehemiah Cionelo’s top performance in the steeple chase came at last year’s conference championships. He will look to improve on his mark of 9:17.57 minutes, which he ran on March 31 at Stanford.

Women’s 10,000-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 10:35 p.m.
Samree Dishon – Lifetime Best: 33:09.12 (5/13/2022 – MW Championships)
Amelia Mazza-Downie – UNM Best: 32:55.26 (4/2/2022 – Stanford Invitational)
Ali Upshaw – Lifetime Best: 33:18.32 (4/2/2022 – Stanford Invitational)

The Lobos already have two runners in the top-10 in the NCAA in the 10,000-meters, with Emma Heckel and Gracelyn Larkin ranking seventh and eighth, respectively after hitting PRs at the Stanford Invitational. Amelia Mazza-Downie earned All-America status with a ninth-place finish in the 10k last June, while Samree Dishon is the reigning Mountain West champion in the event after winning it with her PR time of 33:09.12 minutes last May. Sophomore Ali Upshaw holds a PR of 33:18.32 minutes which she set last April at the Stanford Invitational.

Women’s Heptathlon Day 2 (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 10 a.m.
Victoria Plummer – Lifetime Best: 4,498 Points (3/31/2023 – Texas State Bobcat Invitational)

Men’s 200-Meters (Tom Jones Memorial) – 4:20 p.m.
Victor Akhalu – Lifetime Best: 21.25a (21.18) (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Jevon O’Bryant – Lifetime Best: 21.05a (20.98) (4/2/2022 – Texas Tech Masked Rider)

Akhalu matched his lifetime best in the 200-meters at last week’s UNM Spring Invitational, running a time of 21.25 seconds (21.18). O’Bryant meanwhile finished on Akhalu’s heels with a time of 21.28 seconds (21.21) on Thursday. Akhalu is sixth on the Mountain West performance list and O’Bryant is close behind in seventh entering the weekend.

Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay (Mt. Sac Relays) – 6:40 p.m.
Rebecca Grieve, Tianna Holmes, Analisa Ibarra, Logan Neely, Aleksandra Wolczak

A quartet of Lobos will seek to improve upon the school-record mark of 3:40.34 minutes, run on March 29 at the Texas Relays. UNM currently sits second on the Mountain West performance list in the 4×400-meter relay.

Women’s 5,000-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 7:20 p.m. (rolling schedule)
Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi – Lifetime Best: 16:42.36 (4/3/2021 – Hayward Premier)

Firezghi will compete in her first 5,000-meter race of the spring season, after opening up with the 800-meters and 1,500-meters last week in the home meet. Last fall during the cross country season, Firezghi hit a PR in the 5k with a time of 17:20.0 minutes on Sept. 30.

Men’s 5,000-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 7:20 p.m. (rolling schedule)
Jonathan Carmin – Outdoor Best: 13:54.29 (3/31/2023 – Stanford Invitational)

The 2023 Mountain West indoor champion in the 5,000-meters, Carmin will look to build off his time of 13:54.29 minutes in his first outdoor run of the spring on March 31 at Stanford.

Women’s Long Jump (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 10 a.m.
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)
Mikyla Harkley – Lifetime Best: 5.89m/19’ 4” (3/25/2023 – TTU Masked Rider)

Harkley enters the week third on the Mountain West performance list, with her PR leap of 5.89 meters (19’ 4”) on March 25 being the best mark by a Lobo this year. Gonzalez meanwhile checks in at No. 8 on the MW performance list, holding a season-best leap of 5.71 meters (18’ 9”) which she hit at last week’s home meet.

Men’s Long Jump (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 10 a.m.
Aidan Quinn – Liftime Best: 7.10m/23’ 3.5” (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Lokesh Sathyanathan – Lifetime Best: 7.87m/25’ 10” (12/4/2019 – Nepal)

Lokesh Sathyanathan hit a season-best mark of 7.60 meters (24’ 11.25”) at the Texas Relays on March 29, as he chases his top indoor mark of 7.69 meters (25’ 2.75”). Aidan Quinn is coming off a lifetime best in the long jump, as he hit a mark of 7.10 meters (23’ 3.5”) last Thursday at home. Sathyanathan enters the week at the top of the Mountain West performance list, while Quinn is close behind in fourth.

Men’s 400-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 10:30 a.m.
Ayoub El Ashmawi – Outdoor Best: 49.67a/49.56 (3/24/2023 – TTU Masked Rider)

After hitting his lifetime best of 48.58 seconds (48.47) during the indoor season, Ayoub El Ashmawi has his sights set on hitting an overall PR again during the outdoor season. He got off to a solid start with a mark of 49.67 seconds (49.56) at the Texas Tech Masked Rider on March 24.

Women’s 400-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 11:12 a.m.
Rebecca Grieve – UNM Outdoor Best: 55.54 (4/1/2023 – Texas State Bobcat Invitational)
Tianna Holmes – Lifetime Best: 52.11 (5/27/2022 – NCAA Preliminary)

Tianna Holmes is the outdoor school record holder in the event, and is coming off a time of 53.71 seconds on March 31 at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational which led all Lobo runners. Grieve meanwhile hit a time of 55.54 seconds in her first outdoor 400-meters, after topping out at 54.27 seconds (54.16) during the indoor season.

Women’s 100-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 12:30 p.m.
Mckenna Watson – Lifetime Best: 11.86a/11.83 (3/25/2023 – Texas Tech Masked Rider)

Mckenna Watson’s outstanding freshman season has continued into the outdoor season, as she hit a personal best of 11.86 seconds (11.83) in the 100-meters at the Texas Tech Masked Rider. That slates her sixth on the Mountain West performance list entering this week’s meet.

Men’s High Jump (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 1 p.m.
Adam Giron – Lifetime Best: 2.01m/6’ 7” (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)

Adam Giron carries a season-best mark of 1.92 meters (6’ 3.5”) into this week’s meet, after clearing that height on Thursday during the Lobos’ home meet.

Men’s 400-Meters (Tom Jones Memorial) – 1:10 p.m.
Jevon O’Bryant – Lifetime Best: 45.67 (5/25/2022 – NCAA West Preliminary)
Jovahn Williamson – Lifetime Best: 45.39 (5/28/2022 – NCAA West Preliminary)
Brodie Young – Lifetime Best: 46.20a/46.09 (3/24/2023 – TTU Masked Rider)

Brodie Young is at the top of the Mountain West performance list in the 400-meters, with a personal-best time of 46.20 seconds (46.09) hit on March 24 at the Texas Tech Masked Rider. Saturday will be the first outdoor 400-meters for reigning Mountain West champion Jevon O’Bryant, and 2022 all-conference runner Jovahn Williamson, who both hold sub-46 second personal bests in the event.

Women’s High Jump (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 2 p.m.
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)
Victoria Plummer – Lifetime Best: 1.70m/5’ 7” (4/22/2021 – Don Kirby Tailwind)

Both Emily Ho and Alyssa Magallanez were centimeters off their personal bests in last week’s home meet, as that duo looks to improve upon their first outdoor marks of the season. Plummer meanwhile is coming off an indoor season that saw her match her lifetime best with a leap of 1.70 meters (5’ 7”) on Feb. 23 at the Mountain West Indoor Championships.

Men’s 100-Meters (Tom Jones Memorial) – 2:10 p.m.
Victor Akhalu – Lifetime Best: 10.44a (10.41) (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)

Akhalu will look to improve upon his PR of 10.44 seconds (10.41), which he hit last Thursday on his home track. He enters this week second on the Mountain West performance list in the event.

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 2:35 p.m.
Tim Harris – Lifetime Best: 53.89 (5/15/2021 – Missouri Valley Championships)

Lobo newcomer Tim Harris will look to record a strong mark in the 400-meter hurdles, where his lifetime best would slate him in the top-five in the Mountain West this season.

Women’s Triple Jump (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 3 p.m.
Mikyla Harkley – Lifetime Best: 12.57m/41’ 3” (4/30/2022 – Fresno State Invitational)

Mikyla Harkley will be back in action this weekend, as she chases her season-best leap of 12.29 meters (40’ 4”) hit on April 1 at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational. Harkley enters the week No. 9 on the Mountain West performance list.

Men’s Triple Jump (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 3 p.m.
Aidan Quinn – Lifetime Best: 15.73m/51’ 7.25” (12/3/2021 – Air Force) Outdoor Best: 15.58m/51’ 1.5” (5/14/2022 – MW Championships)

A four-time Mountain West champion in the triple jump, Quinn’s top mark so far this spring of 15.57 meters (51’ 1”) ranks him second on the conference performance list.

Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 3:10 p.m.
Analisa Ibarra – Lifetime Best: 1:15.21a/1:15.10 (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Annamaria Leszczynska – Lifetime Best: 58.87 (2/17/2018 – Australia)
Logan Neely – Lifetime Best: 1:00.24 (4/22/2022 – Illinois)
Aleksandra Wolczak – Lifetime Best: 58.03 (6/9/2022 – Poland)

Logan Neely was just 0:00.24 seconds off her lifetime best in the 400-meter hurdles at the Texas Relays, while Annamaria Leszczynska posted UNM’s top time in the event this spring at 1:00.35 minutes. Analisa Ibarra is coming off her first-ever 400-meter hurdles, which she ran last week in the Lobos’ home meet.

Men’s 200-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 3:45 p.m.
Ayoub El Ashmawi – Outdoor Best: 21.81a/21.74 (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)

El Ashmawi is coming off an outdoor best in the 200-meters, running a time of 21.81 seconds (21.74) at the Lobos’ home meet. He was just off his lifetime best of 21.70 seconds (21.63), which he ran on Feb. 24 during the indoor season.

Women’s 200-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 4:30 p.m.
Mckenna Watson – Outdoor Best: 24.31 (3/31/2023 – Texas State Bobcat Invitational)

Watson hit her season best time of 24.31 seconds on March 31, after logging a lifetime best of 24.02 seconds (23.95) during the indoor season to narrowly miss out on the school record. She enters this week with the 11th-fastest 200-meter time in the Mountain West this spring.

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles (Mt. Sac Relays) – 4:50 p.m.
Rivaldo Leacock – Lifetime Best: 49.63 (5/25/2022 – NCAA West Preliminary)

A 2022 All-American in the 400-meter hurdles, Rivaldo Leacock set the bar at 51.10 seconds (50.99) at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational on March 31. He will compete as an unattached runner this weekend.

Women’s Pole Vault (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 5 p.m.
Alyssa Gregory – Lifetime Best: 3.78/12’ 4.75” (3/24/2023 – MW Championship)

Alyssa Gregory hit her top outdoor mark of the season last week at home, clearing 3.65 meters (11’ 11.75”). She will look to improve upon that height this week, as she chases her lifetime best of 3.78 meters (12’ 4.75”) which she hit on March 24 at the Mountain West Indoor Championships.

Women’s 1,500-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 6 p.m. (rolling schedule)
Klara Dess (Section 4) – Lifetime Best: 4:21.08 (1/26/2022 – Australia)
Sarah Eckel (Section 3) – Lifetime Best: 4:14.11 (2/17/2018 – Australia) Collegiate Best: 4:19.61 (5/25/2022 – NCAA West Preliminary)
Abigail Goldstein (Section 3) –Collegiate Best: 4:15.64 (3/31/2023 – Stanford Invitational)
Stefanie Parsons – Lifetime Best: 4:14.22 (6/6/2021 – Tennessee)
Elise Thorner – Lifetime Best: 4:15.10 (4/14/2022 – Bryan Clay Invitational)
Danielle Verster (Section 2) – Lifetime Best: 4:13.78 (4/26/2022 – South Africa)

The Lobos’ elite distance runners will close out the weekend on Saturday night, with Abigail Goldstein leading the way with the No. 13 time in the NCAA so far this season at 4:15.64 minutes. That PR came on March 31 at Stanford, as she jumped to the top of the Mountain West performance list. Elise Thorner is close behind in second on the conference list, with a season-best time of 4:17.08 minutes which she hit at Stanford. Klara Dess is seventh in the conference at 4:23.87 minutes, Sarah Eckel is eighth at 4:24.50 minutes, and Danielle Verster enters the weekend ninth at 4:25.81 minutes.

Reigning Mountain West Athlete of the Week Stefanie Parsons will run the 1,500-meters for the firs time this spring, an event in which she is a three-time All-American. Her best 1,500-meter time in a Lobo uniform was 4:14.58 minutes, which she ran on June 8, 2022 on her way to All-America status at last year’s national championships.

Men’s 1,500-Meters (Bryan Clay Invitational) – 7 p.m. (rolling schedule)
Abdinajib Abade – Lifetime Best: 3:51.73a/3:57.15 (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Ethan Brouw – Lifetime Best: 3:51.61 (4/15/2022 – Bryan Clay Invitational)
Jonathan Carmin – Lifetime Best: 3:46.81 (7/24/2021 – Belgium)
Matthew Larkin – Lifetime Best: 3:43.66 (4/15/2022 – Bryan Clay Invitational)
Harrison Smith III – Lifetime Best: 3:49.92 (4/30/2021 – West Coast Relays)
Awet Yohannes – UNM Best: 3:44.93 (4/14/2022 – Bryan Clay Invitational)

A cast of six Lobo men will compete in the 1,500-meters on Saturday night, with Matthew Larkin owning the top PR among the group at 3:43.66 minutes and the No. 3 time in the Mountain West this year at 3:47.99 at Stanford. Ethan Brouw and Awet Yohannes each notched their PR in the event at the same meet a year ago, while Abdinajib Abade and Jonathan Carmin will each run it for the first time this spring.