UNM Hosts MW Indoor T&F Championships Feb. 22-24
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships return to the Albuquerque Convention Center for the ninth time this weekend on Feb. 22-24.
The Lobos enter their first MW Track Championship under Head Coach Darren Gauson ranked No. 2 in the USTFCCCA TFRI rankings on the women’s side and No. 3 on the men’s side — the same as their indoor conference team finish in 2023 under Coach Joe Franklin. Habtom Samuel (3,000m, 5,000m), Mercy Kirarei (3,000m, 5,000m) and Ethan Brouw (800m) all posted the fastest times in the conference in their respective events so far this indoor season, and UNM’s DMR squad’s time of 9:28.79 from last weekend in Boston ranks first in the league and second in UNM history. 25 UNM athletes in total enter this weekend’s competition ranked in the Top 5 in the MW in their respective events.
FOLLOW THE MEET
Real-time scoring and results, along with post-race interviews and recaps from the 2024 MW Indoor Track & Field Championships, which runs through Saturday, Feb. 24, will be available on the Championship Central page. Head to GoLobos.com/TrackResults for easy access.
The Mountain West Network will provide live coverage of the 2024 MW Indoor Track & Field Championships. Fans can watch the indoor track & field championships on their phones or connected TVs via the Mountain West app. Watch every moment of the MW Indoor Track & Field Championships live on your own TV through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV or Roku. Mobile applications are available through the iOS App Store and Google Play. Visit TheMW.com/app for more information.
For more information regarding the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships, including live results, visit TheMW.com or follow the Mountain West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
MW INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Feb. 22-24| Albuquerque, N.M. | Albuquerque Convention Center
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS / FOLLOW THE MEET
Day One for UNM on Thursday opens with some distance racing, with Mercy Kirarei (MW No. 1), Hanna Bruckmayer (No. 4) and Sophia McDonnell (NT) up first at 4 p.m. before the men’s race at 4:20 p.m. featuring 2023 MW XC Athlete of the Year and NCAA Runner-Up Habtom Samuel (MW No. 1), 2023 XC NCAA All-American and MW Freshman of the Year Evans Kiplagat (No. 2), Thomas Termote (No. 14) and Jonathan Carmin (NT). Day One concludes with the men’s and women’s distance medley relays — UNM’s men’s DMR squad ranks first in the conference after putting down a 9:28.79 time in Boston last weekend that ranks No. 2 in UNM program history.
Day Two for UNM opens with women’s and men’s long jump trials and finals at 1 p.m., with one men’s athlete and three women — Fabian Biondina, Lauren Fowler, Mikyla Harkley and Zennia Gonzalez — set to represent the Lobos. The women’s mile prelims (Hanna Bruckmayer, No. 7; Sarah Eckel, No. 12) are set for 1:30 p.m. and the men’s mile prelims (Samuel Field, No. 3; Luke Cunningham, No. 7) at 1:45 p.m. Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer (MW No. 3) and Annamaria Leszczynska (No. 16) are up next in the women’s 400m prelims at 2:30 p.m., with Brodie Young (No. 3), Tim Harris (No. 15) and Levente Soos (No. 19) competing in the men’s prelims at 2:45 p.m. Four women pole vaulters that rank among the Top 10 in the conference — Maja Gebauer (No. 2), Alyssa Gregory (No. 4), Kiara Quezada-Arzate (No. 5) and Isabel Thomas (No. 6) — will compete for UNM in the finals at 3 p.m.
Continuing Saturday’s full day of events at 3:30 p.m. is the women’s 800m prelims, with 2023 seventh-place finisher Klara Dess (MW No. 3), Gabriella K. Szabo (No. 8), Harriet Tuson (No. 11) and Analisa Ibarra (No. 18). In the men’s prelims at 3:45 p.m., Ethan Brouw (MW No. 1) and Dylan Burrows (MW No. 2) lead the field along with Osaze Demund (MW No. 7) and 2023 MW 800m champion Matthew Larkin (No. 8). UNM’s final three events on Day Two include the women’s 200m prelims (Lauren Fowler, Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer; T-No. 2) at 4 p.m. and the women’s high jump finals (Alyssa Magallanez, No. 8) and men’s 200m prelims (Victor Akhalu, No. 4; Brodie Young, No. 13; Jose Cornejo, No. 15; Elijah Jefferson, No. 17) both starting at 4:15 p.m.
Adam Giron Jr. — making his third appearance at MW Championships — opens up the final day of competition in the men’s high jump, ranked eighth in the conference. Finals for the women’s mile (11:10 a.m.) and men’s mile (11:20 a.m.) are up next, with freshman Kyle Hatler making his MW debut in the Pole Vault finals at 11:30. Biondina (MW No. 6) returns for the men’s triple jump trials and finals at the same time, followed by women’s and men’s 400m finals at 11:50 a.m. and Noon, respectively. Men’s and women’s 800m finals are set for 12:30 p.m. and 12:40 p.m., followed by the 200m finals at 12:50 p.m. and 1 p.m. The women’s 3,000m finals featuring Mercy Kirarei (MW No. 1), Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi (No. 6), Sophia McDonnell (No. 7) and Hanna Bruckmayer (NT) is set for 1:10 p.m., followed by the men’s race featuring Habtom Samuel (No. 1), Evans Kiplagat (No. 3), Samuel Field (No. 12), Jonathan Carmin (No. 14) and Thomas Termote (No. 36) at 1:35 p.m.
Men’s and women’s 4x400m relay action closes out the weekend at 1:50 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. — UNM’s men’s relay team ranks No. 2 in the conference with the women ranking No. 8.
A PREMIER SURFACE
The current surface – the same WSTY Mondo used at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo – at the ABCC was unveiled in March 2021 and cost $3 million in total, with renovations that helped solidify the city’s ability to attract and keep hosting national meets that bring the best competition to Albuquerque. Since 2005, 102 indoor track meets have been hosted at the ABCC — 16 being national championship events at either the collegiate or national level — and indoor track has generated over $30 million in revenue for the city of Albuquerque in that span.
SEASON SO FAR
In the USTFCCCA’s initial TFRI team ranking, the UNM men clocked in at No. 12 in the nation — their highest team ranking in history. In the most recent conference TFRI rankings, the Lobo women rank No. 2 in the Mountain West and the men rank No. 3. UNM ranked in the Top 25 in the nation in nine different events in the USTFCCCA’s #EventSquad rankings released this week: the men’s 800m (No. 14), men’s mile (No. 18), men’s 3,000m (No. 6), women’s 800m (No. 20), women’s mile (No. 23), women’s 3,000m (No. 21), women’s long jump (No. 20), women’s triple jump (No. 12) and women’s pole vault (No. 13).
Through nine meets so far this indoor season – two before the break – UNM athletes have produced 31 marks that rank among the top 10 in program history in their respective events. Habtom Samuel has led the way with three broken UNM records as well as a Mountain West record in the 3,000m.
MEN’S ENTRIES
- Habtom Samuel ranks No. 1 in the conference and No. 11 and No. 5 in the nation in the men’s 3,000m and 5,000m, respectively. He broke the MW record in his last outing in Boston with a 7:40.63 time at sea level – the true freshman broke UNM’s indoor school records in the mile, 3,000m and 5,000m this season. Behind him, fellow 2023 XC All-American Evans Kiplagat ranks No. 2 in the 5,000m (13:26.56) and No. 3 in the 3,000m (7:54.52).
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The Aussie middle-distance duo of Ethan Brouw and Dylan Burrows tout the two fastest 800m times in the conference heading into this weekend’s competition. Brouw – a 2023 Indoor Nationals Competitor – holds the UNM program record in the event.
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UNM’s DMR squad posted the second-fastest time in program history and fastest in the Mountain West in Boston at the Terrier DMR Challenge last week (9:28.79).
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Samuel Field is UNM’s leading miler after back-to-back weekends with new PR’s breaking the four-minute barrier in Boston (3:59.99, 3:58.41).
| ENTRIES (MW RANK) | SEASON-BEST TIME/MARK* |
| 60m | |
| Victor Akhalu (No. 5) | 6.79@ (6.77) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Jose Cornejo (No. 13) | 6.93@ (6.91) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| 200m | |
| Victor Akhalu (No. 4) | 21.22@ (21.15) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Brodie Young (No. 13) | 21.74@ (21.67) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Jose Cornejo (No. 15) | 21.85@ (21.73) – Air Force Holiday Opener, 12/8/23 |
| Elijah Jefferson (No. 17) | 21.88@ (21.85) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| 400m | |
| Brodie Young (No. 3) | 47.25@ (47.13) – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Tim Harris (No. 15) | 48.95@ (48.84) – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Levente Soos (No. 19) | 49.27@ (49.16) – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| 800m | |
| Ethan Brouw (No. 1) | 1:48.06@ (1:48.66) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Dylan Burrows (No. 2) | 1:48.26@ (1:48.66) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Osaze Demund (No. 7) | 1:51.57@ (1:52.19) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Matthew Larkin (No. 8) | 1:51.62@ (1:52.24) – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| 1 Mile | |
| Samuel Field (No. 3) | 3:58.41 – Terrier DMR Challenge, 2/16/24 |
| Luke Cunningham (No. 7) | 4:02.67 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| 3,000m | |
| Habtom Samuel (No. 1) | 7:40.63 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Evans Kiplagat (No. 3) | 7:54.52 – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Samuel Field (No. 12) | 8:06.54 – Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener, 12/2/23 |
| Jonathan Carmin (No. 14) | 8:07.64 – Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener, 12/2/23 |
| Thomas Termote (No. 36) | 8:19.78 – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| 5,000m | |
| Habtom Samuel (No. 1) | 13:14.85 – Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener, 12/2/23 |
| Evans Kiplagat (No. 2) | 13:26.56 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Thomas Termote (No. 14) | 14:06.88 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Jonathan Carmin | NT |
| 1600m (4 x 400m) Relay | |
| Young, Soos, Harris, Akhalu (No. 2) | 3:12.71 – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| 4000m Distance Medley Relay | |
| Cunningham, Young, Burrows, Field, Harris (No. 1) | 9:28.79 – Terrier DMR Challenge, 2/16/24 |
| High Jump | |
| Adam Giron (No. 8) | 2.01m – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Pole Vault | |
| Kyle Hatler (No. 5) | 4.82m – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Long Jump | |
| Fabian Biondina (No. 10) | 7.03m – Air Force Holiday Opener, 12/8/23 |
| Triple Jump | |
| Fabian Biondina (No. 6) | 14.43m – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
*Elevation modifications designated with an @
WOMEN’S ENTRIES
- Three UNM women’s pole vaulters have joined the 4.0m club this season – Maja Gebauer, Kiara Quezada-Arzate and Alyssa Gregory – the first time in UNM program history that three UNM vaulters have done so in the same indoor season. They rank second, fourth and fifth on the MW indoor list.
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Mercy Kirarei was named MW Athlete / Freshman of the week once this indoor season despite joining the Lobos in January – she has ran the fastest 3,000m (9:03.60) and 5,000m (16:14.89) times in the conference this season. Her 3K time ranks No. 29 in the nation.
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The UNM women have three athletes with times that rank in the Top 10 in the mile, four in the Top 10 in the 3,000m and two in the 5,000m.
| ENTRIES (MW RANK) | SEASON-BEST TIME/MARK* |
| 200m | |
| Lauren Fowler (No. 8) | 24.29@ (24.22) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer (No. 8) | 24.29@ (24.22) – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| 400m | |
| Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer (No. 3) | 53.95@ (53.84) – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Annamaria Leszczynska (No. 16) | 56.58@ (56.47) – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| 800m | |
| Klara Dess (No. 3) | 2:08.36@ (2:09.08) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Gabriella K. Szabo (No. 8) | 2:09.70@ (2:10.42) – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Harriet Tuson (No. 11) | 2:11.04@ (2:11.77) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Analisa Ibarra (No. 18) | 2:14.87@ (2:15.62) – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| 1 Mile | |
| Hanna Bruckmayer (No. 7) | 4:42.35@ (4:48.63) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Sarah Eckel (No. 12) | 4:47.16 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| 3,000m | |
| Mercy Kirarei (No. 1) | 9:03.60@ (9:17.32) – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Semira Mebrahtu Firezghi (No. 6) | 9:27.89 – Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener, 12/2/23 |
| Sophia McDonnell (No. 7) | 9:30.50 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Klara Dess (No. 8) | 9:31.40 – Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener, 12/2/23 |
| Hanna Bruckmayer | NT |
| 5,000m | |
| Mercy Kirarei (No. 1) | 16:14.89 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Hanna Bruckmayer (No. 4) | 16:18.90 – BU Hemery Valentine Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Sophia McDonnell | NT |
| 1600m (4 x 400m) Relay | |
| Pouzancre Hoyer, Ibarra, Fowler, Leszczynska, Kiess (No. 8) | 3:47.26@ (3:46.82) – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| 4000m Distance Medley Relay | |
| Eckel, Pouzancre, Szabo, Dess, Leszczynska | NT |
| High Jump | |
| Alyssa Magallanez (No. 8) | 1.65m – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Pole Vault | |
| Maja Gebauer (No. 2) | 4.10m – Air Force Holiday Opener, 12/8/23 |
| Alyssa Gregory (No. 4) | 4.04m – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
| Kiara Quezada-Arzate (No. 5) | 4.00m – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Isabel Thomas (No. 6) | 3.83m – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Long Jump | |
| Lauren Fowler (No. 5) | 6.10m – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Mikyla Harkley (No. 9) | 5.99m – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Zennia Gonzalez (No. 11) | 5.95m – NM Team Open, 1/26/24 |
| Triple Jump | |
| Julia Kellner (No. 7) | 12.53m – Don Kirby Invitational, 2/9/24 |
| Mikyla Harkley (No. 8) | 12.45m – NM Collegiate Classic, 2/2/24 |
*Elevation modifications designated with an @
UP NEXT / FOLLOW THE ACTION
The top 16 competitors in the nation in individual events and the top 12 in relays will earn berths to the NCAA Indoor Championship Meet, set to take place in Boston at The TRACK at New Balance from March 8-9 — the final meet of the 2023-24 indoor season. Opened last year, the state-of-the-art facility touts a 200-meter hydraulically banked track, a 24,000 square-foot warmup area with a capacity for 5,000 attendees.
Should the season end today, Habtom Samuel would qualify for NCAA Championships in the mile (No. 10), the 3,000m (No. 11) and the 5,000m (No. 5), joined in the latter by Evans Kiplagat (No. 15).