New Mexico track and field wrapped up its regular season with a strong showing in Texas on Saturday, followed by rewriting the record books in a big way at the Jordan Payton Invitational on Sunday.
Several Lobos started the weekend at the UTEP Invitational and turned in performances that could earn them qualifying marks for regionals.
Katherine Whiting set another personal record, clearing 12 feet 7 1/2 inches to win the women’s pole vault event. She led a pack of Lobos, including Annie Stirling (12 feet, 3 1/2 inches), Anna Duvall (11 feet, 3 3/4 inches) and Morgan Smith (9 feet 10 inches), who placed second, fourth and fifth, respectively.
Smith notched a personal record while competing in another event, heaving the javelin 110 feet 3 1/2 inches, which was good enough for a fifth place finish.
John Harari earned the top spot in the men’s pole vault by clearing a height of 15 feet, 7 inches. Markus Miller earned runner up honors and teammate Joe Kloeppel finished third in the men’s high jump. Both athletes succeeded in hitting a mark of 6 feet 6 3/4 inches.
In other field action, Amaris Blount placed third in the hammer throw with a toss of 173 feet 7 3/4 inches, while Beau Clafton placed third in the men’s shot put with a heave of 41 feet 5 1/4 inches. Will Carter earned a fifth place finish by leaping 20 feet, 7 3/4 inches in the men’s long jump.
In addition to the field events, New Mexico also ran well on the track. Lindsey Andrews won the women’s 5,000 meter run, finishing with a time of 18:39.54, while Kendall Reiley finished fifth in the women’s 1,500-meter run at 4:50.29.
On the men’s side, Daniel Lam placed fourth in the 110-hurdles at 15.08, just ahead of Parker Jones’ time of 15.14. In the men’s 800-meter run, Adam Monroe earned a third place finish with a time of 1:53.56, while Chris Graham came in fourth in the 1,500-meter event at 4:02.97
Prior to the weekend, head coach Joe Franklin said he estimated over 20 Lobos had posted marks that are good enough to qualify for regionals. After the team’s outburst at the Payton Jordan Invitational, that number may have increased.
“We had lots of lifetime bests,” Franklin said in a release. “They ran against some of the best in the world and for them to come out here and do what they did and not quit, that’s very positive.”
Courtney Frerichs not only set a new school record, she also recorded the world’s fastest time this year in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase running in 9:29.31. The time is the fifth fastest in NCAA history.
Sophie Connor also set a new school record, completed the women’s 1,500-meter run in 4:14.03.
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The relay team of Allan Hamilton, Scott, Bajere, Calos Salcido and Ridge Jones ran a first-place time of 40.20 in the men’s 400-meter relay, eclipsing a 50-year-old school record according to a release.
Haywood and Salcido also teamed with Cheyne Dorsey and Isaac Gonzales to take a second place finish at 3:16.21 in the men’s 1,600-meter relay.
Haywood had a busy day, as he also garnered the top spot in the men’s 400-meter run with a time of 48.13.
New Mexico nabbed the top spot in the women’s 1,600-meter relay. Haley Sanner, Zoe Howell, Holly Van Grisven and Hannah Riker-Urrutia combined to finish in 3:50.35.
Van Grinsven placed third in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at 13.85, while Howell competed the women’s 800-meter run in 2:08.34 to place fourth.
In field action, Samuel Trigg exploded for a leap of 50 feet, 1 1/4 inches to lead the way in the men’s triple jump. On the women’s side, Jannell Hadnot hit a mark of 42 feet 3/4 inch for a first place finish.
Aasha Marler jumped into a second place in the women’s long jump with a distance of 20 feet, 1/2 inch, while Hamilton hit 24 feet, 9 inches to take second on the men’s side.
The Lobos will head back to California to compete in the Mountain West Outdoor Championships. The four-day event begins on May 11.
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.
