FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Pamela Kosgei punched her ticket to return to NCAA Outdoor Championships to defend her 10,000m crown on Day Two of NCAA West Regional Preliminary action at John McDonnell Field, finishing as regional runner-up to close out the night.
The reigning outdoor champion in the 10,000m ensured she’ll race again at least once in Eugene with a 31:27.58 finish for second place in the West Region, pulling far ahead of the field along with collegiate record holder Jane Hedengren of BYU and pushing her to the final lap before ultimately succumbing to her kick at the finish line.
Both Kosgei and Hedengren crushed the previous John McDonnell Field facility record (33:25.71) that had stood since 2009 and led 16 other athletes below that mark in one of the fastest Regional 10K races in history. They'll square off again on June 11 at Hayward Field with the NCAA title on the line.
Pamela Kosgei finishes as a close second in the NCAA West Region 10,000m Semifinal to ensure she'll return to Eugene to defend her 2025 outdoor title! pic.twitter.com/2VX7fCJBGG
— New Mexico XC/T&F (@UNMLoboXCTF) May 29, 2026
Kosgei will return Saturday for the women’s 5,000m alongside Marion Jepngetich, Tilly Simpson, Mercy Kirarei and Jasmine Wood. Kosgei and Jepngetich finished first and fourth in the outdoor 5K final in Eugene last season.
In other First-Round action, three Lobo women (Jasmine Wood, Tilly Simpson, Li-Mari Dekker) qualified for the 1,500m Quarterfinals, Taniya Looney advanced in both the 100m and 200m and Eva Ngom raced her way to the 400m Quarterfinals. All five will return on Saturday to race for spots in Eugene.
Tomorrow’s competition gets going for UNM with Matthew Endrody in the 1,500m Quarterfinals at 4:15 p.m. MT. This week's action will be streamed via ESPN+, with live results available via GoLobos.com/TrackResults. Follow @UNMLoboXCTF for meet day updates, behind-the-scenes content and comprehensive coverage of New Mexico Track & Field.
Men’s Pole Vault - First Round
28. Arian Milicija - 5.07m / 16’ 7.5”
Milicija cleared the opening height of 5.07m on his first attempt but scratched out at the 5.22m mark to put an end to his 2026 outdoor season and second trip to NCAA West Region Prelims in a row. He finished 11th in his flight and 28th overall on the day.
Women’s 100m Hurdles - First Round
44. Adryana Shelby - 13.98 (+1.8)
In her first appearance at NCAA West Regional prelims, Shelby finished 44th overall and eighth in her heat with a 13.98 performance.
Women’s 1,500 Meters - First Round
15. Tilly Simpson - 4:16.04 (Q)
17. Li-Mari Dekker - 4:16.72 (Q)
18. Jasmine Wood - 4:16.72 (q)
Tilly Simpson finished fourth in the opening heat and Li-Mari Dekker finished fifth in the second heat as both secured qualifications for quarterfinals automatically – Jasmine Wood (4:16.72) ran the same time as Dekker to finish sixth in the first heat and advanced on time to make it three Lobo women moving on to Saturday’s races.
Women’s Pole Vault - First Round
31. Mackenzie Hurtubise - 3.93m / 12’10.75”
After breaking the UNM program record with a 4.23m performance at MW Outdoor Championships two weeks ago, the freshman Hurtubise cleared 3.93m on her first attempt but scratched out at the 4.08m mark to finish 31st overall and 14th in her flight.
Women’s 100 Meters - First Round
1. Taniya Looney - 11.07 (+1.3) [Q]
Fresh off a pair of personal bests and new UNM records in the 100m and 200m at MW Outdoor Championships two weeks ago, Looney stayed hot with a blistering 11.07 time – a new wind-legal program record – to open up her stay in Fayetteville with a heat win. She advances to Saturday’s Quarterfinal with the fastest time of the First Round.
BIG HEAT WIN for Taniya Looney!
— New Mexico XC/T&F (@UNMLoboXCTF) May 29, 2026
She runs a new wind-legal program record of 11.07 to advance to Saturday's Quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/UWm2dClP1s
Women’s 400 Meters - First Round
21. Eva Ngom - 52.54 (Q)
42. Lou-Anne Pouzancre - 53.70
In her first NCAA West Regional Prelim appearance, Eva Ngom raced to a third-place finish in the fourth heat with a sub-53 performance (52.54) to snag an automatic qualifying spot in Quarterfinals, with Senior Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer (53.70) finishing eighth in the same heat in the final race of her collegiate career.
Eva Ngom is MOVING ON to Saturday's 400m Quarterfinals after a 3rd-place finish in Heat 4! pic.twitter.com/f5pxtbtepV
— New Mexico XC/T&F (@UNMLoboXCTF) May 29, 2026
Women’s 800 Meters - First Round
39. Kylie Feeney - 2:08.73
After entering this week ranked 69th in the region in the 800m, Feeney departs Fayetteville 39th overall after notching a 2:08.73 performance to finish seventh in the fourth heat.
Women’s 200 Meters - First Round
10. Taniya Looney - 23.03 (+0.4)
Looney secured her second advancement in as many races with another strong showing in the 200m, ripping off a 23.03 time to finish second in the fifth heat – the 10th-fastest of the First Round. She’ll now contest both the 100m and 200m Quarterfinals on Saturday.
Women’s 10,000 Meters - Semifinal
2. Pamela Kosgei - 31:27.58 (Q)
30. Tina Nisoli - 34:16.56
Pamela Kosgei stayed glued to NCAA 10,000m record holder Jane Hedengren for 25 laps and briefly overtook her on the final 400 meters but couldn’t hold on at the finish line to finish as runner-up by just a quarter of a second with a 31:27.58 time.
Behind her, Mountain West 10K Champion Tina Nisoli crossed in 34:16.56 to finish 30th overall in her first Regional race.