Cam Watts Breaks 100m Program Record in El Paso

New Mexico Track & Field recorded new program records in the Men’s 100m and Women’s 4x400m relay along with seven new personal bests and a pair of additional All-Time Top 10 record book entries on Friday at the UTEP Sun City Classic in El Paso, Texas.

In the men’s 100 meters, senior Cam Watts — a dual-sport athlete in football and track and MW Indoor Champion in the 60 meter dash — won the event in 10.24 seconds (+1.5 m/s) to set a new UNM school record. The previous mark of 10.28 was held by BeeJay Lee (2012) and Victor Akhalu (2023). Elijah Jefferson followed in 10.55 for seventh place overall and second collegiately.

Jefferson was the top collegiate finisher in the 200 meters (fourth overall) with a new personal best time of 21.18 (+0.5 m/s). Brodie Young followed at 21.22 (+0.0 m/s), with Khari Wilbon running 21.61 (+0.5 m/s) and Levente Soos 22.13 (+0.5 m/s). Wilbon also ran the 400 meters in 48.37, finishing third among collegiate competitors (ninth overall), while CJ Pizzeck clocked a 51.07.

Blake Reynolds finished sixth collegiately (eighth overall) in the 800 meters at 2:01.77, following his win in the 1500 meters in 3:57.33. Reynolds took the lead at 600 meters, ran two 66-second laps, and closed in 61.1 to edge a New Mexico State athlete by 0.40 seconds. Kipruto Koech placed third in 3:59.52.

Freshman Semaj Thompson won the 400-meter hurdles in 53.14, with Jacob Cavanaugh placing third in 54.57.

The Lobos won the 4×100-meter relay, with Brodie Young, Elijah Jefferson, Cameron Miller and Cam Watts combining for a time of 40.34. That mark ties for the third-fastest time in UNM outdoor history and is 0.33 seconds off the school record.

The 4×400-meter relay team also took first place among collegiate teams (fourth overall) in 3:12.89. Thompson led off in 48.5, followed by Wilbon (47.6), Cavanaugh (48.5), and Soos (47.3).

In field events, Arian Milicija cleared 17 feet, 2 ¾ inches (5.25m) to win the pole vault. He became the eighth athlete in program history to clear 17 feet outdoors and now ranks sixth all-time at UNM. Milicija opened at 15 feet, 9 ¼ inches (4.81m), cleared 16 feet, 3 ¼ inches (4.96m) on his first attempt, and needed two tries at 16 feet, 7 ¼ inches (5.06m) before clearing 17-2¾ on his third attempt. He did not clear 17 feet, 6 ½ inches (5.35m).

Kyle Hatler placed third at 15-9¼ (4.81m), and Thomas Alrick was fourth at 15-3½ (4.66m). Cameron Miller finished third in the long jump with a mark of 21-4¼ (6.51m) (+1.3 m/s) on his second attempt.

The women’s 4×400-meter relay team broke the school record of 3:38.85 with a time of 3:34.35. Sofia Pineda opened with a 53.3 split, followed by Lou-Anna Pouzancre Hoyer (53.3), Hanna Kiess (54.2), and Rebecca Grieve (52.5 personal best) — the top three women’s outdoor 4x400m performances in program history have now all come in the last three seasons. Grieve’s split is the fastest in school history and the first under 53 seconds.

Laylah Lawson finished eighth overall (seventh collegiately) in the 100 meters with a wind-aided 11.93 (+2.1 m/s), and Ophelia Pulley ran 12.36. In the 200 meters, Hoyer placed fifth collegiately (sixth overall) in 23.82 (+0.2 m/s), tying for sixth all-time at UNM. Grieve followed in 24.14 (+0.2 m/s), Pineda in 24.34 (+0.3 m/s), Kiess in 24.69 (+0.3 m/s), Anaya Quarles in 25.04 (+0.1 m/s), Lawson in 25.05 (+0.3 m/s), Pulley in 25.59 (+0.1 m/s), and Pietra Campbell Simoes in 26.73 (-0.1 m/s).

Quarles also ran the 400 meters, finishing fifth collegiately (eighth overall) in 57.41.

In the 800 meters, Lobos took four of the top six spots. Hannah Taylor led the way in 2:10.82 after a 64.5-second opening lap and 66.7-second finish, placing second. Meadow Drebert was third overall (second collegiately) in 2:12.47, followed by Fiona Holloway (2:15.10) and Stefana Purkovic (2:18.65).

Mia Torrecillas was third in the 1500 meters (second collegiately) with a time of 4:48.65, followed by Maleah Goldie (4:54.45, fourth) and Lyla Fedio (5:00.40, fifth).

In the 100-meter hurdles, Campbell Simoes placed third collegiately (seventh overall) in 14.41 (+1.1 m/s), narrowly missing a spot on UNM’s all-time top 10 list. The winner clocked 12.81.

In the 2000-meter steeplechase, Katrina Endres finished second in 7:27.55 and Sylvia Schwedler placed third in 7:28.24.

In the women’s pole vault, Alyssa Gregory finished second with a clearance of 12-9¼ (3.89m). Kiara Quezada-Arzate was fourth at 12-3¼ (3.74m), Kailey Ludwig sixth at 11-9¼ (3.59m), and Isabel Thomas eighth at 11-3½ (3.44m).

Zennia Gonzales was the top collegiate finisher in the long jump (third overall) with an effort of 18-9½ (5.73m) (-1.4 m/s). In the triple jump, Mikyla Harkley recorded the second-best mark at 39-8½ (12.10m) (+2.0 m/s).

In the javelin, Carlotta Duenninger placed seventh with a final-round throw of 116-4 (35.47m).