New Mexico Track & Field splits up between Arizona and California tomorrow for the Lobos' final competition of the regular season at the Arizona Desert Heat Classic (Tucson, Ariz.) and the Payton Jordan Invitational (Palo Alto, Calif.).

In Week Five’s USTFCCCA Outdoor TFRI Rankings released on Tuesday, both Lobo squads remained in the Top 25 for the fourth week in a row, with the Men at No. 22 and the Women at No. 22. UNM ranks among the Top 20 in the nation in seven different events in the USTFCCCA's #EventSquad rankings, leading the nation in both the men's and women's 10K and the men's 5K.

Live results for Saturday's competition at both meets will be available via GoLobos.com/TrackResults. Follow @UNMLoboXCTF for meet day updates, behind-the-scenes content and comprehensive coverage of New Mexico Track & Field.

Arizona Desert Heat Classic
May 2 | Tucson, Ariz.

Payton Jordan Invitational
May 2 | Palo Alto, Calif.

NCAA QUALIFYING SNAPSHOT
New Mexico enters the stretch run toward NCAA West Prelims with a strong contingent of athletes currently inside the qualifying cutoff, totaling 36 marks across 19 events that sit within the Top 48 nationally (after scratches). On the women’s side, the Lobos account for 20 qualifying positions across 12 events, led by a deep distance group and sprint presence. Pamela Kosgei (No. 2 – 5,000m; No. 2 – 10,000m) and Marion Jepngetich (No. 7 – 5,000m) lead a 5K group that also includes Tilly Simpson (No. 19 – 5,000m; No. 17 – 1,500m) and Jasmine Wood (No. 36 – 5,000m; No. 29 – 1,500m), with Mercy Kirarei (No. 45 – 5,000m; No. 16 – 10,000m) and Christina Nisoli (No. 24 – 10,000m) adding depth. In the sprints, Taniya Looney (No. 6 – 100m; No. 25 – 200m) leads the way alongside Louanne Pouzancre (No. 40 – 200m; No. 36 – 400m) and Eva Ngom (No. 13 – 400m). Elsewhere, Adryana Shelby (No. 46 – 100H) and Hanna Kiess (No. 30 – 400H) hold qualifying spots, while the 4x400m relay (No. 24) remains inside the cutoff. In the field, Ajia Hughes (No. 29 – HJ; No. 30 – TJ), Mackenzie Hurtubise (No. 38 – PV) and Mikyla Harkley (No. 48 – LJ) round out the group.

On the men’s side, New Mexico has 16 qualifying marks across seven events, led by its distance group. Habtom Samuel (No. 1 – 5,000m; No. 1 – 10,000m) anchors a loaded 5K group that includes Collins Kiprotich (No. 13 – 5,000m; No. 18 – 1,500m), Iker Sanchez Lopez (No. 16 – 5,000m) and Vincent Chirchir (No. 19 – 5,000m; No. 11 – 10,000m), with Evans Kiplagat (No. 29 – 5,000m; No. 10 – 10,000m) and Thomas Termote (No. 13 – 10,000m) also qualifying. Matthew Endrody (No. 29 – 800m; No. 6 – 1,500m) leads the middle distance group alongside Joshua Abraham (No. 20 – 1,500m). Elsewhere, Levente Soos (No. 37 – 400H) and Cameron Miller (No. 39 – TJ) are also currently in qualifying position.

HABTOM SAMUEL: CO-NATIONAL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

After breaking his own collegiate outdoor 5,000m record in dominant fashion at the Bryan Clay Invitational, New Mexico's Habtom Samuel has been named USTFCCCA Co-National Men's Athlete of the Week, the organization announced Monday.

Samuel shares the honor with Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum, who broke the outdoor 1,500m record at the Oregon Team Invitational in Eugene. It's the fifth National Athlete of the Week award in his career and his fourth this academic year alone -- he was named XC Athlete of the Week in October after winning the Nuttycombe Invitational title, Indoor Track Athlete of the Week in December after his season-opening 5K win in Boston and Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week on April 6.

Samuel threw down a devastating kick with a 1:58 clocking over the last two laps as he blew away the fastest field of the night in Azusa, finishing in 13:03.47 to beat his own NCAA Outdoor 5K record and reassert his status as the favorite to win both the 5K and 10K at NCAA Outdoor Championships in June.

COLLEGIATE RECORD DOWN🔥

Habtom Samuel (@UNMLoboXCTF) runs 13:03.47 in the men’s 5000m invite to set a new outdoor collegiate record 🥹#CollegeTF and #BryanClay coverage presented by @SauconyRacing pic.twitter.com/gpXF47jEsf

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) April 18, 2026

The next two fastest finishers, Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich (13:13.43) and BYU’s Tayvon Kitchen (13:16.27) were well out of sight when Samuel crossed the finish line. The fastest 5K in the nation heading into this weekend’s competition was 13:19.73 from Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum.

USTFCCCA RANKINGS UPDATE
In the fourth week of outdoor TFRI rankings, both UNM squads clocked in at No. 22 in the nation -- the third week in a row with both in the Top 25.

National TFRI Rankings - Checkpoint #5
Men: No. 20 (+2)
Women: No. 23 (-1) 

Mountain Region TFRI Rankings - Checkpoint #5
Men: No. 7 (--)
Women: No. 3 (--)

Mountain West Conference TFRI Rankings - Checkpoint #5
Men: No. 5 (--)
Women: No. 1 (--)

In the national #EventSquad rankings, the Lobos ranked among the Top 25 in the nation in nine events. UNM men still lead the nation in the 10,000m as well as the 5,000m and rank No. 5 in the 1,500m, while the UNM Women rank No. 1 in the nation in the 10K, No. 2 in the 5K, No. 16 in the 1,500m, No. 16 in the 400m, No. 22 in the Long Jump and No. 23 in the 200m.

It's UNM's third season in a row in which they lead the nation in the Men's 10K.

USTFCCCA #EVENTSQUAD RANKINGS - Checkpoint #5
Women's 100m - No. 27
Women's 200m - No. 23
Women's 400m - No. 16
Women's 800m - No. 33
Women’s 1,500m - No. 16
Women’s 5,000m - No. 2
Women's 10,000m - No. 1
Women’s Long Jump - No. 22
Men’s 1,500m - No. 5
Men’s 5,000m - No. 1
Men's 10,000m - No. 1

HABTOM AND PAMELA SWEEP MW STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR HONORS
After following up a clean sweep of the Men’s and Women’s 3,000m and 5,000m titles at MW Indoor Championships with elite showings at NCAA Indoor Championships, New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel and Pamela Kosgei have been named Mountain West Track & Field Student-Athletes of the Year for the 2026 indoor season, the league announced Thursday.

It's the eighth time a man from UNM has been named MW Indoor Student-Athlete of the Year and the fourth time for a Lobo woman. It's the first and only time UNM has swept both awards in the same year since 2010, when Lee Emmanuel and Sandy Fortner both earned the honor.

Between them, the two athletes scored a total of 40 team points at MW Indoor Championships as they set new men’s and women’s meet records in the 3K and 5K and combined for 24 points at NCAA Indoor Championships. 

NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS REWIND
New Mexico Track & Field delivered a strong two-day showing at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., highlighted by an individual national title, five First Team All-America finishes and multiple program all-time performances.

Habtom Samuel led the way with a national title in the men’s 5,000m (13:36.58), securing his first indoor championship and third NCAA individual title overall. With the win, he became the first athlete in program history to claim NCAA titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor competition. Samuel closed in 26.64 over the final 200 meters to hold off the field and finish his indoor season unbeaten against collegiate competition.

On the women’s side, Pamela Kosgei scored in both distance events, finishing third in the 5,000m (15:07.76) before earning national runner-up honors in the 3,000m with a personal-best 8:43.86 that set a UNM and Mountain West indoor record. Marion Jepngetich joined her on the podium in the 3,000m, placing third in 8:44.0 as the duo recorded the No. 1 and No. 2 indoor performances in program history.

Matthew Endrödy capped a breakout indoor season with First Team All-America honors in the men’s mile, finishing sixth in 3:59.74 after advancing through prelims as an automatic qualifier. He became the program’s highest finisher in the event since 2018.

Samuel nearly added a second title in the men’s 3,000m, crossing the line first before being disqualified following contact on the final lap. Evans Kiplagat added a Second Team All-America finish in the men’s 5,000m (16th).

As a team, the Lobos totaled 20 points on the women’s side to finish tied for 10th nationally, while the men scored 13 points to tie for 19th.

SAMUEL MAKES YET ANOTHER BOWERMAN WATCH LIST
In The Bowerman’s Pre-Outdoor Watch List released on March 26, Habtom Samuel made the cut once again after winning the NCAA Indoor 5,000m title two weeks ago. He has yet to not be named to a Watch List for the Bowerman this track season since missing out on a semifinalist spot in 2025.

The Bowerman is bestowed to collegiate track & field's top male and female athlete for the year. The Bowerman Advisory Board, and ultimately, The Bowerman Voters, are instructed to consider performances inclusively from the collegiate indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons only. Cross country results are not within this consideration. The current collective track & field season began on November 28, 2025 and will end on June 13, 2026.