Judy Rono Runs UNM All-Time No. 5 800m on Day Two at UW Invite

SEATTLE, Wash. — Judy Rono ran the fifth-fastest indoor 800m in program history and four Lobos recorded new personal bests in the mile to highlight New Mexico’s second day of competition at the UW Invitational at Dempsey Indoor on Saturday.

In her first collegiate 800 meter race, Rono won the fifth heat with a 2:07.57 clocking, good for seventh overall and fourth-fastest among collegiate athletes in the field – she and Jess Chisar (2:08.27) were the only athletes in the overall Top 10 that didn’t come out of the final two heats of the day. With Rono entering the UNM All-Time list at No. 5, that means four of the five fastest indoor 800m performances in program history have come in the last three seasons (2023-present).

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐒 from the Women’s 800 in Seattle ⬇️

In her first collegiate 800m race, Judy Rono runs the fifth-fastest time in program history to win Heat 5 and finish 7th overall at the UW Invitational! pic.twitter.com/sb2lfmvnZG

— New Mexico XC/T&F (@UNMLoboXCTF) February 2, 2025

In mile racing, Joshua Abraham finished fourth in his heat and 16th overall with a new raw personal best (4:03.03) after opening his UNM career with a 4:06.77 (4:01.40 converted) at the Dr. MLK Jr. Invitational last Saturday. Luke Cunningham finished 12th in his heat and 63rd overall with a 4:12.22 time.

On the women’s side, three Lobos recorded new PB’s – Alice Seguin (15th, 4:41.23), Natalie Bitetti (17th, 4:42.41) both put down new all-conditions collegiate bests and Rono (20th, 4:44.06) posted a raw personal best. Behind them, Marion Jepngetich (4:46.23) finished 10th in the fastest heat of the day with the 27th-fastest time and Hannah Bruckmayer (61st) clocked a 5:54.31 in her season opener ahead of Rilyn Stevens (65th, 4:56.76).