Last season the Lobos became the first team to sweep the Mountain West indoor titles since former MW member BYU did in 2011. It was the second-straight MW title for the men and the first for the women.
Now UNM hopes to once again sweep both championships and become the only team aside from BYU to win both the men’s and women’s titles in back-to-back seasons.
The Mountain West Championships will be held in Albuquerque this year on Feb. 26-28.
“It’s going to be tough, but we can do it. We got a good group this year; we got a lot more depth than we did last year,” senior sprinter Charles Lewis said. “This year it seems like everyone is taking to the roles that we need to play. We know that certain people are going to have to step up more than last year.”
Head coach Joe Franklin said he expects the men’s and women’s squads from Colorado State to provide the biggest threat to the UNM’s title hopes. The Rams’ men’s and women’s teams finished second and fourth, respectively, at the Mountain West Championships last season. Franklin also pointed out that Air Force and Wyoming will also be tough competition for the men, while San Diego State could provide some trouble for the women.
“It would be really nice to win at home,” Franklin said. “We got a shot — it’s not unrealistic.”
The men appear to be strong in most events. The 60-meter dash is one that they look to be stacked in, with Ridge Jones, Carlos Wiggins and Allan Hamilton. Jones earned MW Athlete of the Week earlier this season, and Wiggins is one of the speediest players on the Lobo football team.
As always, the distance races will be another strong point for the men. Adam Bitchell, Ross Matheson and Pat Zacharias are among the top distance runners for UNM.
Lewis, who finished second in the 400 meters last season, also returns. High jumper Django Lovett is another athlete to watch.
“You have all those people,” Franklin said. “There’s going be somebody that we’re not talking about that’s going to do great. That’s just how our sport is.”
Like the men, distance runners will be a strength for the women. Sammy Silva, Calli Thackery and Alice Wright will all contribute to the Lobos on that front.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Another event that UNM will be competitive in is long jump. Senior Aasha Marler is the returning long jump champion from last season and was named MW Athlete of the Week two weeks ago.
“I feel good. Of course I’m optimistic and I just want to get out there and compete,” she said. “There are a lot of great athletes.”
This weekend’s Lobo Collegiate Invitational will be the first of five home meets, including the Mountain West Championships, for UNM.
The Lobos will only have to travel for one meet during that span, when they head to the Washington Husky Classic in Seattle, Washington on Feb. 13.
“(Being home) adds a lot of comfortability,” Lewis said. “At the same time it adds more excitement because your family out there. You don’t want to lose in front of your family. That makes it even more that you have to show up and represent.”
Thomas Romero-Salas is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
