by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Ariel Burr can breathe easy now that she's accomplished her goal of qualifying for the NCAA Midwest Regional meet.
To top it off, the UNM sophomore track and field runner bested her own school record in the 400-meter run and earned a victory at the elite Mount Sac Relays on Thursday in Walnut, Calif. Burr blazed to a record time of 53.48 in the Olympic Development section of the event.
Burr said she is thrilled about the victory and relieved she was able to punch her ticket to the regional meet.
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"I'm very excited," she said. "I was more excited because I qualified for regionals and because I PR'd (got a personal record)."
Burr said because the Mount Sac Relays are known as one of the most prestigious meets of the season, she had a couple more butterflies than usual going into the event.
"I was pretty nervous," she said. "When you walk in they have all the times - like Marion Jones' times are up there - they have the stadium records. After I started running, I just decided I shouldn't be scared of anybody else because I'm just as fast as anybody else."
UNM junior Jeremy Johnson was also victorious, winning his second consecutive race. He beat a field of 22 in the 5k in 14:35.
UNM head coach Matt Henry said he was happy with Johnson's first-place finish, but he hopes he can also qualify for the regional meet.
"I'm really glad he could win the race," Henry said. "Unfortunately when we go there, that's not really what we're looking for. When we go to that meet we're looking to qualify. He's definitely capable of qualifying."
Sophomore sprinter Jarrin Solomon also had an impressive day at the Mount Sac Relays, finishing second overall in the Olympic Development section of the 400-meter run. Solomon crossed the line in a time of 47.19 - the fastest among collegiate runners - but finished second to professional runner Rashaad Johnson who clocked a time of 47.02.
A small number of athletes traveled to the Mount Sac Relays before most of the team went on to compete at the UTEP Invitational on Saturday.
At that meet, senior Mike Powdrell had his breakout meet of the season in the field events. Powdrell won the long jump and placed second in the high jump.
Powdrell said he enjoys competing at the UTEP Invitational and was glad to see the results he wanted.
"It's one of my favorite places to jump," he said. "I know when I come here I'm going to do my best. I was excited coming in, and I was hoping I could do something to leave my mark because it might be my last time jumping here."
Stasia Ploskonka notched another first place for the Lobos, winning the 2,000-meter steeplechase Saturday. Ploskonka, who set the school record in the event last season, cruised to victory in a time of 7:47.
In the men's 1,500-meter run, senior Frank Hemingway and junior Dylan Rose-Coss finished first and second in the event, respectively.
The Lobo women also had some success in the field events as Katie Coronado placed second in the javelin throw, while Whitney Johnson finished third in the pole vault.
Burr said she was happy to see the team perform well as a whole, and is thrilled that so many UNM athletes will be making the trip to regionals.
"I think that it's really exciting," Burr said. "It definitely shows the team is getting better. You get to be with your teammates. You're not out there by yourself. You have the team to support you, so it's really exciting."
