Lobo distance runners compete at Payton Jordan Invitational

STANFORD, Calif. – Wrapping up the weekend of competition for the New Mexico track and field team on Friday night at Cobb Track & Angell Field, a trio of Lobo distance runners competed in the Payton Jordan Invitational hosted by Stanford.

Gracelyn Larkin and Emma Heckel competed in the women’s 5,000-meters, while Jonathan Carmin represented the Lobos in the men’s 5,000-meters.

Larkin ran a time of 15:38.73 minutes, finishing in eighth place among a field of 18 competitors in section one of the event. That was good enough for the 15th-fastest time in the NCAA this year, and it was the fastest by any Mountain West Conference runner.

Heckel meanwhile ran a time of 16:18.88 minutes, which slated her ninth in the Mountain West this season. Heckel and Larkin are both two-time All-Americans, with Larkin being the reigning Mountain West champion in the event.

Carmin crossed the line in sixth place, running a time of 14:00.91 minutes. The Mountain West champion in the 5,000-meters during the indoor season, Carmin ranks eighth on the conference performance list so far this spring.

It was the final slate of competition this weekend for the Lobos, who hosted the Don Kirby Tailwind Open on Thursday in Albuquerque.

LOOKING AHEAD: Three meets are on the calendar next weekend, as the Lobos will have competitors at the Penn Relays, the Texas Tech Corky Invitational, and the Fresno State Invitational. It will be the final set of meets before the Mountain West Championships, which are set for May 11-13 at Fresno State.