by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Timmie Murphy hadn't raced in nearly four months and last competed on an outdoor track two years ago.
That didn't stop the UNM track and field team's distance runner from picking up a win in the first meet of the outdoor season. Murphy won the women's 3,000-meter run in 10:00.12 on Saturday at the Baldy Castillo Invitational in
Tempe, Ariz.
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The fact that Murphy had success despite not being in top form is promising, UNM head coach Matt Henry said.
"That was really fun because she's still not healthy completely," he said. "We're excited about that."
Javelin thrower Katie Coronado also had an impressive meet, winning the javelin and hitting an NCAA regional qualifying mark of 159-9. Coronado hit the mark on her first throw and was more than 13 feet ahead of the second-place finisher.
With the javelin being one of the first events of the day, Coronado's qualifying throw was the perfect way to get things going for the Lobos, Henry said.
"That was really nice," he said. "Her first throw of the day she put it over the mark that she needed to, so we started in a pretty good tune. That was fun to have her start the meet out like that for us."
Javelin thrower Anthony Fairbanks also cleared a regional qualifying mark, hitting a distance of 217-10, a career-best. Fairbanks finished second in the event after Arizona State's Andrew Smith threw it 218-6.
Jeremy Johnson led the men's distance team, earning two top-three finishes at the meet. He placed second in the men's 3,000-meter run, clocking a time of 8:21.63. Johnson finished third in the 1,500 with a career-best time of 3:53.62.
Although Johnson had success in both races, he hasn't reached his full potential, Henry said.
"We kind of used this meet as a tuneup," he said. "I think he's ready to go. I hope we can do something really special with him."
In the sprint events, Ariel Burr led the Lobos with a third-place finish in the women's 400-meter run. Burr, who won the 400 at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships, stopped the clock in 54.73.
The Lobos used this weekend's meet more as a workout than a competition, and Burr should see improvement in future meets, Henry said.
"She doesn't feel like she's in top shape yet, but she will be," he said.
Jarrin Solomon, UNM's top male 400-meter runner, took a break from his regular event to compete in the men's 200. He finished sixth with a career-best time of 21.82.
Solomon and the men's 4x400-meter relay team finished second in the event, losing to Arizona State.
The Lobos also had top-five finishes in several field events.
Hagit Salamon finished second in the triple jump, while freshman Deanna Young placed fourth in the same event. Salamon leaped 38-11.5, while Young hit a mark of 38-3.25.
Discus thrower Briana Paxton finished fourth with a throw of 145-2.
Henry said he was happy with the overall results of the weekend.
"It was a great opening meet for us," he said. "As always, we have some people with some disappointments, and other people had joy, but I think it was a nice meet."
Track and field
at USC Trojan
Invitational
Friday, TBA
Los Angeles
