by Ketan Dhawan
Daily Lobo
Even though it was the final weekend of spring break, it wasn't all bad.
While many students trudged home from their getaway destinations, UNM's track and field team was running its first outdoor meet of the season.
The Lobos left Tuscon, Ariz. with five athletes qualified for regionals - all five of them are throwers.
"I was really impressed with my throwers," Matt Kraft, who coaches the shot-put, hammer and discus said. "We've had several breakthroughs this year."
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Senior Jason Barkemeyer, who also throws discus, qualified in the shot-put, placing fourth with a mark of 54-05.50. The regional-qualifying mark for men was set at 54 feet. Barkemeyer continues to raise his standards, though, and says he is still trying to improve.
"I could've thrown a lot further," he said. "I could've done a lot better. I'm actually kind of disappointed."
Junior Amanda Barnes throws the shot-put and the hammer. She also cleaned out the competition, taking first place with a throw of 48-02.75 in the shot-put.
"I really liked my performance," she said. "I've started where I left off last year, and that's a good thing. It seems like I improve every time I throw."
Then there's junior Jamie Fishencord who throws the hammer and the discus, and crushed her own school record in the hammer by 17 feet with a throw of 174-10 last weekend. She won the event.
"I was stunned," she said. "I looked at the results and thought, 'wow, that girl did good,' before I realized that girl was me."
Fishencord said she is grateful she has already qualified for regionals - she said she was expecting to qualify, but not this soon. It is the first time in her three years at UNM that she has qualified for regionals.
Freshman Kayla Brown qualified in her colligate debut, placing second in the javelin toss of 142-05. Veronica Gonzales placed third and also secured a spot in the Midwest Regional.
Kraft said he is looking forward to a very fruitful season.
"I expect Amanda and Jason to qualify in their other events, and I also hope to get a few other throwers qualified for regionals," he said.
Kraft mentioned senior Josh Parra, who placed fifth last weekend. Kraft said he will likely qualify this season, as well as senior Jordan Parker.
Parker is red-shirting this year, but by no means has he let that stop him from excelling. He, along side Barnes, Fishencord and Barkemeyer, placed in last years' indoor championships, while throwing a personal best.
Kraft said it is hard work that is what pushes these athletes to come out every day, rain or shine - with the exception of lightning storms - and practice till they are the best. As Barnes puts it, "It's like a full-time job."
Next up for the track and field team is the Springtime Invitational this weekend in El Paso, Texas.
