Don Kirby Tailwind set for Thursday at UNM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Set to host its final meet of the year on Thursday, the New Mexico track and field team welcomes teams to the UNM Track Complex for the Don Kirby Tailwind Open meet.

The single-day meet kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning with running events and field events scheduled throughout the day. Live results will be available online here, and admission to the meet is free of charge.

The Lobos will also send three athletes to the Payton Jordan Invitational, which is set for Friday and is hosted by Stanford. Gracelyn Larkin and Emma Heckel are scheduled to run in the women’s 5,000-meters at 7:30 p.m., and Jonathan Carmin is entered in the men’s 5,000-meters which follows the women’s race.

Heckel and Larkin enter the week ranked No. 10 and No. 11, respectively on the NCAA performance list in the 10,000-meters, as they shift their focus to the 5,000-meters for the first time this spring. Heckel is a two-time All-American in the event with a lifetime best of 15:26.25 minutes. Larkin is the reigning Mountain West champion in the event, and is also a two-time All-American.

Carmin won the 2022-23 Mountain West Indoor Championships title in the 5,000-meters, as he seeks to improve his positioning of No. 8 in the conference and No. 89 on the national performance list entering this week’s meet. His lifetime best in the event is 13:52.94 minutes.

9:30 a.m. – Women’s Javelin
Alix Rule – Lifetime Best: 28.00m/91’ 10” (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)

Alix Rule will look to continue to improve upon her top mark in her first spring season competing in the javelin for the Lobos.

10 a.m. – Women’s Pole Vault
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 (Unattached)

The usual trio of Lobo women are set to participate in the pole vault, with Kiara Quezada-Arzate competing unattached alongside Alyssa Gregory and Kailey Ludwig.

10:30 a.m. – Men’s 3,000-Meters
Nehemiah Cionelo – Lifetime Best: 8:20.67a (2/11/2022 – Don Kirby Open)

Nehemiah Cionelo is coming off a PR in the 1,500-meters last week, as he ran a time of 3:57.14 minutes at the Bryan Clay Invitational. He will represent the Lobos in the 3,000-meters on Thursday, which will be his first time running the distance during an outdoor collegiate season.

10:45 a.m. – Women’s 3,000-Meters
Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi – Lifetime Best: 9:48.46 (12/3/2022 – Colyear Danville Opener)

Semira Mebrahtu Firezgh is coming off a monstrous PR in the 5,000-meters, running a time of 16:25.88 minutes at last week’s Bryan Clay Invitational. That bumped her up to No. 10 on the Mountain West performance list, as she’ll shift her focus this week to the 3,000-meters for the first time this season.

11 a.m. – Men’s High Jump followed by Women’s High Jump
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 – Dr. MLK Jr. 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)

Adam Giron flirted with his lifetime best during the indoor season, hitting a top mark of 2.0 meters (6’ 6.75”) as he came up just 0.01 meters shy. Alyssa Magallanez and Emily Ho both narrowly missed their PRs in the Lobos’ last home meet, and Victoria Plummer is set to compete as well.

11:15 a.m. – Women’s 4×100-Meters
Maria Cisneros Llamazares, Logan Neely, Kora Pettengill, Mckenna Watson

The Lobos are entered to run the 4×100-meter relay for the first time this season. The group ranks second on the Mountain West performance list in the 4×400-meter relay, and the top time in the conference in the 4×100-meter relay entering this week sits at 44.77 seconds (San Diego State).

11:25 a.m. – Women’s 400-Meters
Tianna Holmes – Lifetime Best: 52.11 (5/27/2022 – NCAA Preliminary)
Annamaria Leszczynska – Lifetime Best: 56.32 (11/25/2018 – Australia) UNM Best: 56.48a (2/24/2023 – Mountain West Championships)
Logan Neely – Lifetime Best: 54.62 (4/1/2023 – Texas State Bobcat Invitational)
Mckenna Watson – Lifetime Best: 1:01.99 (3/23/2022 – HS)

Four Lobo women are set to compete in the 400-meters, with reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Week Mckenna Watson set to run the race for the first time in her collegiate career. Tianna Holmes is the school record holder in the event at 52.11 seconds and currently leads the conference with a season-best time of 53.29 seconds, while Logan Neely enters the meet at No. 6 on the Mountain West performance list with a mark of 54.62 seconds.

11:30 a.m. – Women’s & Men’s Long Jump
Lokesh Sathyanathan – Lifetime Best: 7.87m/25’ 10” (12/4/2019 – Nepal)
Aidan Quinn – Lifetime Best: 7.10m/23’ 3.5” (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Jovahn Williamson – Lifetime Best: None.
Zennia Gonzalez – Lifetime Best: 5.93m/19’ 5.5” (4/30/2022 – Mexico)
Mikyla Harkley – Lifetime Best: 5.89m/19’ 4.0” (3/25/2023 – Texas Tech Masked Rider)
Lilee Kaasch – Lifetime Best: 5.58m/18’ 3.75” (4/15/2022 – HS) UNM Best: 5.51m/18’ 1” (3/25/2023 – Texas Tech Masked Rider)

On the men’s side, Lokesh Sathyanathan enters the week No. 2 on the Mountain West performance list at 7.79 meters (25’ 6.75”), which was his best jump in a Lobo uniform thus far. Aidan Quinn is close behind in fourth at 7.10 meters (23’ 3.5”). Mikyla Harkley leads the Lobo women and is fifth in the conference with a mark of 5.93 meters (19’ 5.5”), and Zennia Gonzalez enters the week No. 12 on the conference performance list at 5.71 meters (18’ 9”).

11:35 a.m. – Men’s 400-Meters
Victor Akhalu – Lifetime Best: 46.73a (4/22/2021 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Ayoub El Ashmawi – Lifetime Best: 48.58a (2/24/2023 – Mountain West Championships)
Jevon O’Bryant – Lifetime Best: 45.67 (5/25/2022 – NCAA Preliminary)

Victor Akhalu, who is second on the Mountain West performance list in the 100-meters and sixth in the 200-meters, is set to run the 400-meters for the first time this spring. Jevon O’Bryant starts the week No. 5 on the conference performance list with a season-best time of 46.78 seconds, while Ayoub El Ashmawi will target his personal best of 48.58 seconds which he ran during the indoor season.

11:45 a.m. – Women’s 100-Meters
Alexandra Adams – Lifetime Best: 12.46a (6/27/2021 – HS) UNM Best: 12.95a (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Maria Cisneros Llamazares – Lifetime Best: 11.74 (5/14/2022 – Spain) UNM Best: 12.43a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Adriana Gabaldon – Lifetime Best: 14.41a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Kora Pettengill – Lifetime Best: 13.33 (3/7/2020 – HS)
Tatyanah Wiley – Lifetime Best: 12.65a (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)

Maria Cisneros Llamazares is coming off her best time of the season, hitting 12.43 seconds (converted from 12.40) at the UNM Spring Invitational. Adriana Gabaldon ran her lifetime best in the Lobos’ last home meet, and Thursday will be the first collegiate 100-meters for freshman Kora Pettengill.

11:55 a.m. – Men’s 100-Meters
Victor Akhalu – Lifetime Best: 10.44a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Gal Arad – Lifetime Best: 10.45 (5/22/2018 – Israel)

Akhalu’s top time this season of 10.44 seconds is second-fastest among all Mountain West runners this year. Gal Arad is set to make his outdoor debut for the Lobos, after being an all-conference performer during the indoor season. His lifetime best in the 100-meters sits at 10.45 seconds.

12:05 p.m. – Women’s 800-Meters
Lauren Bettencourt – Lifetime Best: 2:13.53 (HS) UNM Best: 2:16.05a (2/4/2023 – UNM Collegiate Classic)
Klara Dess – Lifetime Best: 2:07.24 (1/28/2022 – Australia)
Sarah Eckel – Lifetime Best: 2:05.24 (1/13/2018 – Australia)
Isabella Fauria – Lifetime Best: 2:14.72a (1/29/2022 – UNM Team Open)
Rebecca Grieve – Lifetime Best: 2:07.20a (1/28/2023 – UNM Team Open)

Klara Dess, Sarah Eckel, and Rebecca Grieve will compete in the invitational section to kick off the event. Grieve enters the week fourth in the conference at 2:08.39 minutes, while Dess is 11th at 2:10.86 minutes and Eckel is 16th at 2:13.09 minutes so far this season. Bettencourt ran her best-ever time in the 800-meters during the indoor season, and will be joined by Fauria whose PR came during the 2022 indoor campaign.

12:15 p.m. – Men’s 800-Meters
Abdinajib Abade – Lifetime Best: 1:56.23a (2/4/2022 – UNM Collegiate Classic)
Ethan Brouw – Lifetime Best: 1:47.21 (2/11/2023 – Husky Classic)
Matthew Larkin – Lifetime Best: 1:48.20 (5/25/2022 – NCAA Preliminary
Harrison Smith III – Lifetime Best: 1:53.81a (2/3/2023 – UNM Collegiate Classic)

Matthew Larkin, the two-time reigning Mountain West champion in the event, and Ethan Brouw will compete in the invitational section of the 800-meters. Brouw is coming off a school record of 1:47.21 minutes which he set during the indoor season. Harrison Smith III ran his best time in a Lobo uniform in the 800-meters two weeks ago, cruising across the line in 1:53.92 minutes (1:54.60). Abdinajib Abade’s top time came in Albuquerque a year ago, when he was competing for Adams State.

12:30 p.m. – Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
Analisa Ibarra – Lifetime Best: 1:04.90 (4/14/2023 – Bryan Clay Invitational)
Leigh James – Lifetime Best: 1:07.87a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Aleksandra Wolczak – Lifetime Best: 58.03 (6/9/2022 – Poland)

Analisa Ibarra is coming off a lifetime best in the event, running a time of 1:04.90 minutes at last week’s Bryan Clay Invitational. Aleksandra Wolczak will look to break the 1-minute barrier for the first time in a UNM uniform, as she enters the week at No. 10 on the Mountain West performance list.

12:30 p.m. – Women’s Triple Jump
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 – Texas Tech Masked Rider)

Harkley’s top triple jump this year of 12.29 meters (40’ 4”) ranks her ninth in the conference, while Lilee Kaasch will look to build off her season-best leap of 11.59 meters (38’ 0.25”) which she hit on March 25 in Texas.

12:40 p.m. – Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
Tim Harris – Lifetime Best: 53.89 (5/16/2021 – MVC Championships)

Now with an established 400-meter hurdle time of 56.04 seconds last week in California, Tim Harris has a target for his third meet in a Lobo uniform. Entering the week at No. 10 in the Mountain West, Harris could significantly improve his positioning on the conference performance list with an improved mark this week.

12:55 p.m. – Women’s 200-Meters
Alexandra Adams – Lifetime Best: 25.88a (6/27/2021 – HS) UNM Outdoor Best: 27.35a (4/7/2022 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Maria Cisneros Llamazares – Lifetime Best: 24.77 (2/12/2022 – Spain) UNM Best: 25.63a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Adriana Gabaldon – Lifetime Best: 28.55 (HS) UNM Best: 29.82a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Zennia Gonzalez – Lifetime Best: 27.76a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Alyssa Gregory – Lifetime Best: None.
Mikyla Harkley – Lifetime Best: 25.87a (4/7/2022 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Tianna Holmes – Lifetime Best: 23.12 (5/27/2022 – NCAA Preliminary)
Lilee Kaasch – Lifetime Best: 27.70a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Annamaria Leszczynska – Lifetime Best: 25.33 (2/11/2022 – Chicago)
Kailey Ludwig – Lifetime Best: None.
Alyssa Magallanez – Lifetime Best: 27.46a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Logan Neely – Lifetime Best: 24.71a (2/10/2023 – Don Kirby Invitational)
Kora Pettengill – Lifetime Best: 25.73a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)
Tatyanah Wiley – Lifetime Best: 25.51a (4/7/2022 – UNM Spring Invitational)

Fourteen Lobos will have a shot at the 200-meters on Thursday, with Holmes’s season-best time of 24.19 seconds leading the group and ranking ninth in the Mountain West. Cisneros Llamazares ran her top collegiate 200-meter time at the UNM Spring Invitational, hitting a mark of 25.63 seconds (25.56). Lilee Kaasch matched her lifetime best from high school with a converted time of 27.70 seconds, and her raw mark of 27.63 was her fastest ever. Also running PRs this spring were Gabaldon, Gonzalez, Magallanez, and Pettengill, who will each look to improve upon their times recorded at the UNM Spring Invitational.

1:10 p.m. – Men’s 200-Meters
Gal Arad – Lifetime Best: 21.01 (7/10/2021 – Estonia)
Ayoub El Ashmawi – Lifetime Best: 21.70a (2/24/2023 – Mountain West Championships)
Adam Giron – Lifetime Best: 24.07a (4/21/2022 – Don Kirby Tailwind)
Tim Harris – Lifetime Best: 22.93 (2/22/2020)
Brodie Young – Lifetime Best: 21.38a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)

Among the Lobos competing in the event on Thursday, freshman Brodie Young has the top mark this season as he ranks 10th in the conference at 21.38 seconds. Arad’s top indoor time of 21.34 seconds would also land him in the top-10 in the conference as he competes for the first time this spring. El Ashmawi will look to improve upon his personal best of 21.70 seconds, which came during the indoor season. Thursday will be the first 200-meter run of the year for Giron and the first in a Lobo uniform for Harris.

1:20 p.m. – Women’s 1,500-Meters
Lauren Bettencourt – Lifetime Best: None.
Laini Cota – Lifetime Best: None.
Isabella Fauria – Lifetime Best: None.
Camille Jackson – Lifetime Best: 5:16.47a (4/6/2023 – UNM Spring Invitational)

While it will be Laini Cota’s first official race at this distance, she is coming off a lifetime best run of 2:27.46 minutes (2:28.34) in the 800-meters at the UNM Spring Invitational. It will also be the first collegiate outdoor 1,500-meters for Isabella Fauria and Lauren Bettencourt, while Camille Jackson will run the race for the second time this spring.

1:50 p.m. – Men’s 4×400-Meters
Abdinajib Abade, Ethan Brouw, Matthew Larkin, Harrison Smith III

The Lobos will put a new squad to the test to close out the meet on Thursday, with this quartet teaming up for the first time this year.

2 p.m. – Women’s 4×400-Meters
Lauren Bettencourt, Klara Dess, Sarah Eckel, Isabella Fauria, Rebecca Grieve, Tianna Holmes, Analisa Ibarra, Annamaria Leszczynska, Mckenna Watson, Aleksandra Wolczak

The Lobos are projected to construct a pair of relay teams among the pool of available runners on Thursday.