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Mikyla Harkley cleared the six-meter mark in the long jump for the first time in her career on Thursday at the Don Kirby Tailwind Open.

Lobos complete home slate with Don Kirby Tailwind Thursday

by Evan O'Kelly

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hosting its ninth and final meet of the 2022-23 academic year on Thursday at the UNM Track & Field Complex, the New Mexico track and field team participated in the annual Don Kirby Tailwind Open.

Mikyla Harkley led the way in the long jump, clearing six meters for the first time for a PR of 6.01 meters (19’ 8.75”) and a victory among the field of eight competitors. Zennia Gonzalez was second with a leap of 5.73 meters (18’ 9.75”), which was her best jump yet as a Lobo. Freshman Lilee Kaasch followed in third, hitting a mark of 5.55 meters (18’ 2.5”) which was her best collegiate mark and was just off her lifetime best of 5.58 meters (18 3.75”).

Harkley also led the Lobos in the triple jump, where her distance of 12.39 meters (40’ 7.75”) topped the field of four competitors. Kaasch also participated in the event, clearing a distance of 11.39 meters (37’ 4.5”).

Brodie Young ran his top time in the 200-meters, with a mark of 21.24 seconds (converted from 21.17) and a wind reading of +3.5.

Rebecca Grieve led the Lobos in the women’s 800-meters, finishing with a time of 2:11.20 minutes (2:11.98). Sarah Eckel followed in 2:12.86 minutes (2:13.65), and Klara Dess also competed in the invitational heat with a time of 2:19.73 minutes (2:20.56). Isabella Fauria topped a field of 19 competitors in the second section of the 800-meters, crossing the line with a time of 2:17.98 minutes (2:18.80).

Matthew Larkin and Ethan Brouw represented the Lobo men in the invitational 800-meters, posting times of 1:52.17 minutes (1:52.84) and 2:00.47 minutes (2:01.19), respectively. Nehemiah Cionelo also ran the 800-meters on Thursday, finishing with a time of 1:59.95 minutes (2:00.66).

Tianna Holmes led the Lobo women in the 400-meters, finishing with a time of 54.61 seconds (54.50) to place second among a field of 16 competitors. In her first-ever collegiate 400-meters, Mckenna Watson clocked a lifetime best of 57.07 seconds (56.96).

Holmes also led the women in the 200-meters, finishing with a time of 24.35 seconds (24.28) to place fifth among a field of 23 runners. Logan Neely ran a personal best in the event, finishing with a time of 24.63 seconds (24.56) with a wind reading of +4.5. Annamaria Leszczynska clocked a time of 25.02 seconds (24.95) also with a wind reading of +4.5.

In the men’s 400-meters, Jevon O’Bryant was the top finisher for the Lobos with a time of 46.53 seconds (46.42) to place second out of 13. Victor Akhalu followed in fourth place with a time of 47.45 seconds (47.34).

Maria Cisneros Llamazares ran her top time this spring in the 100-meters, leading the cast of Lobo women with a mark of 12.16 seconds (12.13) (+3.4). Tatyanah Wiley crossed the line with a time of 12.77 seconds (12.74) (+2.5), while Pettengill hit a mark of 12.78 seconds (12.75) (+3.4) and Alexandra Adams followed in 12.91 seconds (12.88) (+2.5) for that duo’s best times in Lobo uniforms. Adriana Gabaldon finished in 14.07 seconds (14.04) (+2.5).

In the 200-meters, Cisneros Llamazares posted a time of 25.57 seconds (25.50), Wiley clocked in at 25.67 seconds (25.60), Pettengill finished in 25.79 seconds (25.72), and Adams checked in at 26.75 seconds (26.68) all with a wind reading of +3.4.

Also running the 200-meters for the Lobos and finishing with a wind reading of +2.8 were Alyssa Magallanez in 27.66 seconds (27.59), Gonzalez in 28.05 seconds (27.98), Preslie Coffey in 28.68 seconds (28.61), and Gabaldon in 29.59 seconds (29.52).

Tim Harris ran his top time of the season in the 400-meter hurdles, checking in with a mark of 54.71 seconds (54.60). That was just under one second off his lifetime best of 53.89 seconds, and it bumped him up to No. 9 on the Mountain West Conference performance list. Harris followed with a time of 22.97 seconds (22.90) in the 200-meters with a wind reading of +3.3.

Aleksandra Wolczak and Analisa Ibarra were the Lobos’ competitors in the women’s 400-meter hurdles on Thursday. Wolczak finished in fourth place among the field of seven, clocking a time of 1:02.61 minutes (1:02.50). Ibarra meanwhile crossed the line in 1:05.29 minutes (1:05.18).

Lauren Bettencourt competed in her first collegiate 1,500-meters, finishing with a time of 4:49.00 minutes (4:55.76) to place fourth among a field of 14 runners. Laini Cota turned in a time of 5:07.41 minutes (5:14.60), and Camille Jackson crossed the line in 5:20.16 minutes (5:27.65).

Victoria Plummer was New Mexico’s top performer in the high jump, clearing a bar set at 1.59 meters (5’ 2.5”) to finish fourth among a field of nine competitors. Emily Ho notched a mark of 1.54 meters (5’ 0.5”), as did Magallanez as the duo tied for fifth place. On the men’s side, Adam Giron led the way in the high jump with a mark of 1.87 meters (6’ 1.5”).

The women’s pole vault trio of Alyssa Gregory, Kailey Ludwig, and Kiara Quezada-Arzate got the event started on Thursday morning, with Quezada-Arzate leading the way with a mark of 3.81 meters (12’ 6”) competing unattached. That was just 0.01 meters off her lifetime best in the event. Gregory notched a height of 3.51 meters (11’ 6.25”), and Ludwig followed by clearing 3.06 meters (10’ 0.5”).

Keagin Brooks and Alix Rule competed in the javelin, posting marks of 34.0 meters (11’ 6”) and 28.45 meters (93’ 4”), respectively. Rule’s mark was an improvement upon her season best, which sat at 28.0 meters (91’ 10”) entering Thursday’s meet.

The Lobo women ran a 4×100-meter relay, with the squad of Pettengill, Watson, Cisneros Llamazares, and Neely combining for a time of 47.42 seconds (converted from 47.30).

UP NEXT: Three Lobos are set to compete at the Payton Jordan Invitational on Friday night in Palo Alto, Calif.