New Mexico’s track and field team continued to bolster its resume by logging several strong performances at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California.
Two athletes were rewarded for their outstanding performances at the meet last weekend. Calli Thackery was named Mountain West Women’s Track Athlete of the Week and Allan Hamilton received Mountain West Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honors.
Thackery earned a first place finish in the women’s 1500-meter run, completing it in 4:14.99. That time, a personal record for her, ranks second in school history as well as second in the nation this year.
The Lobos ran as a pack in the race. Teammates Sophie Connor (4:16.40) and Courtney Frerichs (4:18.92) also ran well, finishing second and sixth, respectively. Those times are also in the top 20 in the nation.
Molly Renfer, who ran unattached, finished fifth with a time of 4:18.32, while Emily Hosker-Thonhill ran the same event in a different section, earning a second place finish at 4:21.16, which was good for 10th overall.
Hamilton finished second in the men’s long jump, leaping 25 feet, 10 1/4 inches. The mark, a personal record, is fourth in school history and sixth in the NCAA this season.
In the men’s 1500-meter run, Josh Kerr edged out his opponent by one one hundredth of a second to lead the way with a time of 3:42.09. The field was extremely tight as teammates Elmar Engholm (3:42.65) and Adam Cotton (3:44.02), finished mere seconds behind, running in a different section.
The Lobos continued to shine in distance runs as Alice Wright turned in the top time in the women’s 5000-meter run. She finished in 16:01.80, while Natasha Bernal finished fifth overall at 16:27.45.
Mustafa Mudada (53.22) and Cheyne Dorsey (53.93) both picked up third place in their sections of the men’s 400-meter hurdles.
New Mexico also tallied several top finishes in the field events as well. Katherine Whiting broke through for a third place finish in the women’s pole vault, clearing 12 feet, 4 inches.
Samuel Trigg exploded for a distance of 50 feet, 4 3/4 inches to win the men’s triple jump.
In the women’s event, Jannell Hadnot jumped 42 feet, 9 3/4 inches for a second place finish, while teammate Aasha Marler was the best in the women’s long jump, leaping 19 feet, 8 3/4 inches to win the event.
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Markus Miller registered a personal best in the men’s high jump. He cleared a height of 6 feet, 10 3/4 inches to win the event.
The women’s relay teams rounded out some of the top performances with top five finishes in both the 400-meter and 1600-meter relay events.
Haley Sanner, Holly Van Grinsven, Hadnot and Marler combined for a fourth place finish in the 400-meter relay with a time of 46.77.
In the 1600-meter relay, Sanner, Zoe Howell, Larimar Rodriguez and Van Grinsven teamed up to run 3:45.11 for a second place finish.
The Lobos will stay in California and be in action again this Saturday at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge, an all-day event held in Berkeley, Calif.
Robert Maler is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers cross country, tennis, and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @robert_maler.
