Preview: NCAA Track & Field West Region Preliminary Championships

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The penultimate meet of the 2022-23 season awaits the New Mexico track and field team this week at Hornet Stadium, as the Lobos are set to compete in the NCAA West Region Preliminary Championships starting on Wednesday evening hosted by Sacramento State University.

A group of 24 New Mexico athletes earned a total of 28 qualifying marks across 16 different events at the upcoming regional championship, which will determine the field for the ensuing NCAA Championships.

The 24 Lobos that qualified for the meet did so by obtaining a mark in the top-48 among the west region of the country. The top-12 from the west regional, along with the top-12 in the east regional being contested in Jacksonville, Fla., will advance to the NCAA Championships to form field of 24 finalists in each event.

The NCAA Championships are set for June 7-10 and will be held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

7 p.m. – Men’s Long Jump – First Round
Top-12 advance to NCAA Championships
Jake Burkey – Seed: 7.92 meters (10) | Flight 4 of 4
Lokesh Sathyanathan – Seed: 8.02 meters (4) | Flight 4 of 4

It was a triumphant Mountain West Championship meet for the Lobos’ dynamic long jump duo, which went 1-2 to occupy a pair of spots on the podium. Sathyanathan crushed his personal best clearing eight meters for the first time in his life, with his championship-winning jump of 8.02 meters being the furthest by any Lobo this year. Burkey meanwhile had no problems shaking off the rust after not having competed since the NCAA Indoor Championships where he earned All-America honors. In his first meet of the outdoor season, the Lobo newcomer leapt into the top-10 in the region with a PR of 7.92 meters to take second place. A top-12 finish on Wednesday punches their ticket to the national championships.

7:30 p.m. – Men’s 1,500 Meters – First Round
Top 5 in each of 4 heats & next 4 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Friday
Jonathan Carmin – Seed: 3:43.96 (41) | Heat 1 of 4

Carmin will represent the Lobo men in both the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters this week. In his first season with the Lobos, Carmin qualified for the 1,500 meters by running the team’s second-fastest time of the year of 3:43.96 at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April. Carmin will compete in the first of four heats on Wednesday and will need to finish fourth or better in his race or have one of the next four fastest times to advance to Friday’s quarterfinal.

8 p.m. – Men’s 100 Meters – First Round
Top 3 in each of 6 heats & next 6 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Friday
Victor Akhalu – Seed: 10.28 (44) | Heat 2 of 6

Getting onto the podium with a school-record tying run of 10.28 seconds at the Mountain West Championships, Victor Akhalu has consistently improved in the 100 meters this spring. The veteran shaved off enough time to finish second at the conference meet, and will be competing at the regional meet as an individual for the first time. Akhalu was the 2021 NJCAA national runner-up in the 400-meters, and is running the 100-meters for the first time collegiately this spring. It will take a top-three finish in his heat of nine runners or one of the next six fastest times to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.

8:25 p.m. – Men’s 400 Meters – First Round
Top 3 in each of 6 heats & next 6 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Friday
Jevon O’Bryant – Seed: 45.87 (29) | Heat 2 of 6
Jovahn Williamson – Seed: 45.78 (23) | Heat 4 of 6
Brodie Young – Seed: 45.82 (25) | Heat 6 of 6

The trio of 400-meter standouts will each need to place in the top-three of their heats or have one of the next six fastest times in order for a chance to run together on Friday, as Jevon O’Bryant, Jovahn Williamson, and Brodie Young are each in different heats for the first round of the event. Williamson is coming off a lifetime best of 45.78 seconds at the Mountain West Championships, where he and Young each got on the podium placing second and third, respectively. Young broke the 46 second barrier for the first time in his life this spring, and O’Bryant has the top lifetime mark of the trio at 45.67 which he ran at the preliminary meet a year ago.

8:50 p.m. – Men’s 800 Meters – First Round
Top 3 in each of 6 heats & next 6 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Friday
Ethan Brouw – Seed: 1:48.12 (22) | Heat 1 of 6

Ethan Brouw will look to make it to his second NCAA Championship event of the year, after he garnered All-American status in the 800-meters during the 2023 indoor season. The indoor school record holder in the event, Brouw enters the preliminary meet right in the middle of the field of 48 competitors with a seed time of 1:48.12 which he ran at the Fresno State Invitational. Brouw’s strong seed time has him on pace of earning a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals, and he’ll be in the first of six heats on Wednesday night.

7:30 p.m. – Women’s 1,500 Meters – First Round
Top 5 in each of 4 heats & next 4 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Saturday
Abigail Goldstein – Seed: 4:12.98 (12) | Heat 1 of 4
Stefanie Parsons – Seed: 4:15.19 (19) | Heat 2 of 4

Abigail Goldstein broke the school record in the 1,500 meters, running a time of 4:12.98 earlier this spring. That elevated her to No. 12 on the regional list, and she also checks in at No. 24 on the TFRRS national performance list entering the week. Stefanie Parsons is coming off a Mountain West title in the event two weeks ago, winning the conference title with a time of 4:17.17 minutes. Her seed time of 4:15.19, which she ran at the Oxy Invitational on May 6, slates her at No. 19 on the regional lineup. Both Lobos have a strong chance to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal race.

8:25 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meters – First Round
Top 3 in each of 6 heats & next 6 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Saturday
Tianna Holmes – Seed: 52.79 (29) | Heat 5 of 6

Tianna Holmes won the Mountain West indoor title in the 400 meters before finishing as the conference runner-up in the event two weeks ago. The senior narrowly missed out on qualifying for nationals in 2022, finishing in 14th place at the regional preliminary meet. Holmes owns the school record of 52.11 seconds in the 400-meters, and will look to build off her season-best time of 52.79 seconds which she ran at the conference meet.

9:20 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles – First Round
Top 3 in each of 6 heats & next 6 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Saturday
Annamaria Leszczynska – Seed: 58.57 (24)| Heat 5 of 6
Logan Neely – Seed: 59.10 (33) | Heat 6 of 6

In her first year with the Lobos, Annamaria Leszczynska made her way onto the podium at the conference meet finishing in second place. Her top time of the season – 58.57 seconds – came at the Bryan Clay Invitational where she finished in third place. Neely has been close behind all spring, and broke the one-minute barrier for the first time in her collegiate career. Neely’s top time of 59.10 seconds also came at the Bryan Clay Invitational. The duo will be in the final two of six heats on Thursday night.

9:45 p.m. – Women’s 200 Meters – First Round
Top 3 in each of 6 heats & next 6 fastest times advance to quarterfinals on Saturday
Tianna Holmes – Seed: 23.27 (24)| Heat 3 of 6

Holmes was also the Mountain West runner up in the 200 meters, crossing the line in 23.30 seconds two weeks ago. That was just 0.03 off of her season best of 23.27, which she ran at Fresno State to jump to No. 24 on the regional list. Holmes owns the school record in the event with a time of 23.12, which she ran at the 2021 preliminary west meet when she finished in 16th place.

10:10 p.m. – Women’s 10,000 Meters – Semifinals
Top 12 advance to NCAA Championships
Gracelyn Larkin – Seed: 32:32.61 (7)
Amelia Mazza-Downie – Seed: 32:07.62 (3)

Two of the top distance runners in the country, Amelia Mazza-Downie and Gracelyn Larkin enter the 10,000 meters ranking fifth and 11th, respectively on the NCAA performance list. The duo have a strong chance to earn spots in the national championship race, which they would achieve by placing in the top-12 on Friday night. Mazza-Downie broke Weini Kelati’s school record in the event on April 13, cruising to a lifetime best of 32:07.62 minutes. Larkin’s top time of the year was 32:32.61 minutes, which she achieved on March 31 at Stanford.

6:15 p.m. – Men’s 1,500 Meters – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 5 in each of 2 heats & next 2 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Jonathan Carmin

6:40 p.m. – Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeple Chase – Quarterfinals
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Awet Yohannes – Seed: 8:43.06 (15) | Heat 1 of 3

Claiming the second Mountain West title of his career in the steeple chase, Awet Yohannes clocked in at 8:43.06 minutes two weeks ago. The senior will need a top-three finish in his heat of 16 runners or one of the next three fastest times to advance to the NCAA Championships.

7 p.m. – Men’s Triple Jump – First Round
Top 12 advance to NCAA Championships
Aidan Quinn – Seed: 15.85 meters (18) | Flight 3 of 4

The four-time Mountain West triple jump champion will look to end his collegiate career with a bang, as Aidan Quinn enters the regional meet ranked No. 18 in the triple jump. Quinn hit his PR of 15.85 meters (52’ 0”) on April 14 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, before finishing second at the Mountain West Championships to collect the seventh medal of his career. Quinn will compete in the third of four flights on Friday evening, and will need a top-12 performance to advance to the national championships.

7:35 p.m. – Men’s 100 Meters – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Victor Akhalu

7:50 p.m. – Men’s 400 Meters – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Jevon O’Bryant
Jovahn Williamson
Brodie Young

8:05 p.m. – Men’s 800 Meters – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Ethan Brouw

9:10 p.m. – Men’s 5,000 Meters – Semifinals
Top 5 in each of 2 heats & next 2 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Jonathan Carmin – Seed: 13:54.29 (47) | Heat 2 of 2
Kevin Mulcaire – Seed: 13:42.99 (23) | Heat 2 of 2

Kevin Mulcaire is coming off a lifetime best in the 1,500 meters at the Mountain West Championships, where he finished in third place with a mark of 3:42.55 minutes. Mulcaire also hit a PR in the 5,000 meters on March 31 at the Stanford Invitational, as the senior has put together perhaps his best collegiate season yet. Mulcaire elected to focus on the 5,000 meters for the regional championships, where he ranks 23rd entering the meet and would need a top-12 finish to advance to the national championships. Carmin, who is entered in the 1,500 meters, also checks into the 5,000 meters with a seed time of 13:54.29 minutes.

9:45 p.m. – Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay – Quarterfinals
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Victor Akhalu, Jevon O’Bryant, Jovahn Williamson, Brodie Young, Ethan Brouw, Matthew Larkin
Seed time: 3:05.55 (15) | Heat 3 of 3

The Lobos’ record-breaking 4×400-meter relay squad will compete for a spot in the national championships, which would require a top-three finish in their heat or one of the next three fastest times on Friday night under the lights. New Mexico successfully defended its Mountain West Championships title two weeks ago, with the quartet of O’Bryant, Williamson, Akhalu, and Young teaming up to run 3:05.55 minutes. The group set the school record during the indoor season, and has pushed towards last year’s school record time of 3:04.98 minutes which it ran at the preliminary championships. The Lobos will compete in the third and final heat on Friday.

6:15 p.m. – Women’s 1,500 Meters – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 5 in each of 2 heats & next 2 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Abigail Goldstein
Stefanie Parsons

6:40 p.m. – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeple Chase – Quarterfinals
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Maisie Grice – Seed: 9:53.79 (10) | Heat 1 of 3
Elise Thorner – Seed: 9:39.39 (3) | Heat 1 of 3

Elise Thorner holds the third-fastest steeple chase time in the NCAA this year, running 9:39.39 minutes at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 13. She held the top spot in the NCAA for nearly a month, and enters the regional meet with the No. 3 seed. Maisie Grice is fresh off her first-ever Mountain West Championship title, clocking a time of 9:53.79 minutes which slots her No. 17 in the NCAA entering the regional round and 10th in the region. The duo will run alongside each other in the first of three heats on Saturday, and will look for a top-three finish in their race or one of the next three fastest times to advance to the national championships.

7:50 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meters – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Tianna Holmes

8:25 p.m. – Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Annamaria Leszczynska
Logan Neely

8:50 p.m. – Women’s 200 Meters – Quarterfinals **Pending Qualification**
Top 3 in each of 3 heats & next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Tianna Holmes

9:10 p.m. – Women’s 5,000 Meters – Semifinals
Top 5 in each of 2 heats & next 2 fastest times advance to NCAA Championships
Gracelyn Larkin – Seed: 15:38.73 (9) | Heat 2 of 2
Amelia Mazza-Downie – Seed: 15:44.37 (12) | Heat 2 of 2

Mazza-Downie claimed the Mountain West crown in the 5,000 meters in her first run of the spring two weeks ago, and Larkin joined her on the podium taking second place. The duo enters the regional round each ranking in the top-12 in the event, and will run together in the second heat to close out the meet on Saturday. Larkin’s top time of the year of 15:38.73 minutes puts her at No. 18 on the NCAA performance list, while Mazza-Downie checks in at No. 25 nationally.