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by Connor Gilbert

Nisoli, Kiplagat Sweep 10K Titles on Day 1 at MW Outdoor Championships

Nisoli, Kiplagat Sweep 10K Titles on Day 1 at MW Outdoor ChampionshipsNisoli, Kiplagat Sweep 10K Titles on Day 1 at MW Outdoor Championships
Tanner Pearson/MW Photos

CLOVIS, Calif. – New Mexico wrapped up the first day of competition at 2026 Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 20 points thanks to a sweep of the 10,000m individual titles Thursday at Buchanan High School, with Tina Nisoli winning the women’s 10K title and Evans Kiplagat following up with a win in the men’s race half an hour later.

It’s the second year in a row in which Lobos won both the men’s and women’s 10K titles after Chirchir and Jasmine Wood won both last year.

In preliminary action, nine Lobos advanced to Saturday’s finals, with three Lobo women in the 800m (Kylie Feeney, Jasmine Wood, Li-Mari Dekker), Taniya Looney and Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer in the women’s 200m, Matthew Endrody in the men’s 800m, Hanna Kiess in the women’s 400 hurdles and Levente Soos and Semaj Thompson in the men’s 400 hurdles all making the cut.

Through the first day of competition with three of 21 events scored for both men and women, the Lobos sit in fourth place in both team scores with 16 points for the women and 18 for the men.

Team Scores - Men

3 of 21 Events Scored

Place Team Points
1 Colorado St. 35
2 Air Force 25
3 Utah State 24
4 New Mexico 18
5 Boise State 9
6 Grand Canyon 5

Team Scores - Women

3 of 21 Events Scored

Place Team Points
1 Colorado St. 35
2 Air Force 18
2 Nevada 18
4 New Mexico 16
5 Boise State 12
6 Utah State 7
7 Fresno State 5
8 Wyoming 4
9 UNLV 2

Tomorrow’s Day Two of competition in Clovis gets underway with the women’s 100m hurdles prelims at 6:30 p.m. MT. Live results for this weekend's competition at both meets will be available via GoLobos.com/TrackResults, with streaming for all events available via the MW Network at GoLobos.com/Watch and MW Championship Meet Central at themw.com/trackchamp/. Follow @UNMLoboXCTF for meet day updates, behind-the-scenes content and comprehensive coverage of New Mexico Track & Field.

Women’s 800m Prelim 
2. Kylie Feeney - 2:06.67 Q
3. Jasmine Wood - 2:07.28 Q
6. Li-Mari Dekker - 2:07.67 q

Feeney ran just a half second shy of her personal best (2:06.15) as she surged over the final 50 meters to win the first heat of the day and grab an automatic qualifier. She’s now qualified for the 800m final for the second MW championship in a row after finishing fourth at 2026 indoor championships.

Men’s 800m Prelim 
4. Matthew Endrody - 1:50.26 Q
23. Rhys Crawford - 1:58.15

The reigning MW indoor 800m champ came from behind after heading into the second lap at the back of the pack in his heat, closing the final 400m in 55.35 to finish second and secure his qualification for Saturday’s final. Rhys Crawford (1:58.16) finished eighth in his heat and 23rd overall.

Women’s 200m Prelim
1. Taniya Looney - 22.90 Q (+2.0 m/s)
5. Lou-Anne Pouzancre - 23.85 Q (+0.6 m/s)
11. Eva Ngom - 23.92 (+1.0 m/s)
25. Laylah Lawson - 24.94 (+1.0 m/s)

Looney ran yet another wind-legal PR – this time becoming the first woman from New Mexico to run below 23 seconds as she posted the fastest time of prelims with a 22.90. Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer also won her heat that followed with a 23.85 – the fifth-fastest of the day – to secure another qualification, with Eva Ngom (23.92) finishing 11th overall and Laylah Lawson (24.94) in 25th.

Women’s 400m Hurdles Prelim 
2. Hanna Kiess - 59.18 Q

A MW runner-up in the 400 hurdles last season, Hanna Kiess breezed to a heat win and automatic qualification for another final with a 59.18 clocking.

Men’s 400m Hurdles Prelim 
1. Levente Soos - 51.52 Q
5. Semaj Thompson - 52.48 q

Soos opened his campaign to defend his 2025 400 hurdles conference title with a dominant showing in prelims, clocking a 51.52 to win his heat and rank first overall. Semaj Thompson qualified for his first MW 400 hurdles final with a 52.48 time in the same heat as he finished fifth overall.

Women’s 10,000m Final 
1. Christina Nisoli - 34:12.20
6. Mercy Kirarei - 35:07.17
7. Anya Belisle - 35:30.95
8. Isabelle Bloker - 35:32.59

Tina Nisoli won her first Mountain West title in emphatic fashion, putting nearly 16 seconds between herself and the next-fastest finisher as she crossed in 34:12.20 to secure 10 points for the Lobo women. Nisoli put down a 1:19.61 penultimate lap before closing in 1:18.06 to seal the deal.

The other three UNM athletes in the mix all scored points, with Mercy Kirarei (6th, 35:07.17), Anya Belisle (7th, 35:30.95) and Isabelle Bloker (8th, 35:30.95) combining for six more points in the team score.

Men’s 10,000m Final 
1. Evans Kiplagat - 29:23.92
2. Vincent Chirchir - 29:26.92
10. Dylan Maloney - 30:15.08
11. Lukas Ehrle - 30:18.35
14. Matthew Giardina - 32:33.61

After finishing as runner-up to Vincent Chirchir in 2026, Evans Kiplagat beat his teammate to win his first conference title and close out Day One in Clovis, running 29:23.92 to Chirchir’s 29:26.92. It’s the third year in a row for Chirchir finishing among the Top Two in the event at MW Outdoor Championships and Kiplagat’s second in a row on the podium.