Staff Report
Two UNM track athletes will go for gold at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. this week.
Sophomore distance runner Matt Gonzales qualified earlier in the year to compete in the 1,500 and the 10,000. Gonzales decided to only run in the 10k not wanting to risk an injury with the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships right around the corner on June 19.
Gonzales qualified for the NCAA Championships in impressive fashion when he recorded a time of 28:38.64 smashing the Mountain West record by 26 seconds. In that race, the Santa Fe native also qualified for the USA national meet. Gonzales, who comes into the race ranked fourth, will make his run at a national title tonight at 10:40 p.m.
The Lobos will also be represented on the women's side with senior Keren Sari-Bentzur competing for top honors in the heptathlon. Sari-Bentzur's quest for best in the nation begins Friday at 11 a.m. with the first of seven events. The heptathlon concludes on Saturday with 800 meters starting at 3:40 p.m.
This marks the second consecutive year Sari-Bentzur has qualified for the NCAA Championships. Last year she finished ninth with 5,285 points only 36 shy of eighth place which would have also earned her All-America honors.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Gonzales' appearance is the first by a member of the UNM men's team since 1998 when Stephen Dunbar competed in the hammer throw.
