ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico cross country and track & field program has added Dustyn McKenney and Kelli Blake as assistant coaches working with the Lobos’ distance runners, head coach Darren Gauson announced Wednesday.
McKenney moves into a full-time assistant coaching role after serving as a volunteer assistant with New Mexico during the 2025-26 academic year, while Blake joins the Lobos following five seasons as the head men’s and women’s cross country and track & field coach at Caltech.
McKenney and Blake will assist with New Mexico’s distance runners across the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons.
“We’re excited to add Dustyn and Kelli to our staff,” Gauson said. “There’s a great balance between their backgrounds and experience and they should fit together really well with our distance program.”
McKenney joined New Mexico in the summer of 2025 and assisted with the Lobos’ distance runners throughout the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons.
During his first season in Albuquerque, McKenney contributed to one of the most successful years in program history. New Mexico swept the men’s and women’s team titles at the 2025 Mountain West Cross Country Championships before both teams earned trophies at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Lobo men finished as national runners-up, while the women placed fourth.
“After a year of volunteering with the program and displaying his knowledge and experience with New Mexico and our athletes, his work ethic made him stand out amongst a pool of other really qualified candidates,” Gauson said. “He’ll be a key piece for our continuity heading into another big year.”
UNM’s women continued that success on the track, winning both the 2026 Mountain West Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field team championships and finishing in the Top 20 in the nation in both indoor and outdoor men’s and women’s team scores.
The Lobos also produced numerous individual national champions and All-America performers during McKenney’s season with the program.
A native of Clovis, California, McKenney graduated from Western Oregon University in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in organizational leadership. He competed for four seasons with Western Oregon’s cross country and track & field programs.
“The opportunity to continue working with such a great program and build on our previous success is something I really value,” McKenney said. “I’m excited to keep learning from Coach Gauson and our awesome staff.”
Blake arrives in Albuquerque after serving as Caltech’s head men’s and women’s cross country and track & field coach from the fall of 2021 through the spring of 2026.
Under Blake’s leadership, Caltech’s men’s and women’s cross country teams recorded their highest Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and NCAA West Region finishes in four decades.
“I’m incredibly thankful to Coach Gauson for the opportunity to join such an amazing program,” Blake said. “The commitment to excellence and the people within this department make it a special place – I’m looking forward to embracing this new challenge, building relationships with our student-athletes and staff, and continuing to grow while contributing to the success of the Lobos!”
Three Caltech runners qualified individually for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships five times during her tenure, with four athletes qualifying for Regionals eight times on the track.
Caltech’s track & field program also established school records in 17 events and produced more than 120 performances that rank among the top 10 in program history. Luke Lamitina earned First Team All-America honors at the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Blake and assistant coaches Wyatt Meyring and Anna Valentine were named the 2023 SCIAC Men’s Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year. She was also selected by Caltech’s undergraduate community as a recipient of the 2023 Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology Staff and Service Impact Award.
“Kelli brings extensive experience as a head coach, recruiter and athlete developer,” Gauson said. “Her leadership, versatility and proven track record of developing successful programs is a perfect fit for us.”
Before taking over at Caltech, Blake spent five seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis.
During her time with the Bears, Washington University won the first NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor women’s track & field national championships in program history during the 2016-17 season. Blake also helped the women’s cross country team win the 2018 NCAA Division III national title.