Coaches to go out on a high note

by Steven Fernandez

Daily Lobo

If this is a farewell season for Matt and Mark Henry, the UNM track and field team is sending its coaches off with some outstanding accomplishments.

The Henry brothers - Matt the head coach and Mark the associate head coach - announced their retirement during the indoor season to the surprise of many of their athletes.

So far during the outdoor season, some of the Lobos have performed exceptionally, with four members being named Mountain West Conference Track and Field Athletes of the Week.

One of those athletes is sprinter Jarrin Solomon, who said he is pushing as hard as he can to make the Henrys' last season successful.

"I try to do it for them every meet," he said. "I know they love track and field, and this is their last year, so I try to give it my all every week. I think everybody's on the same page as far as that. We're trying to let them go out on a good note."

This week alone, two Lobos received the weekly conference award. Katie Coronado won the women's javelin throw at the UTEP Invitational last weekend and broke the school record with a throw of 169-10.

At the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on Saturday, Jeremy Johnson finished ninth overall and third among collegiate runners in the men's 10,000-meter run. The race featured some of the best runners in the country, including some professional athletes.

Henry said it's impressive for two UNM members to receive the honor in the same week.

"That's pretty special," he said. "I think that's pretty rare. But I think they deserve it, too, with what they've done."

Coronado and Johnson join Solomon and men's javelin thrower Anthony Fairbanks as the other Lobos to be named conference athlete of the week.

Solomon was given the honor April 3 after his performance at the Arizona International meet. At that event, he won the men's 400-meter run and recorded a personal-best time of 46.42 to qualify for the NCAA Midwest

Regional meet.

Solomon also won last weekend's 400 at the Mt. SAC Relays, with a time

of 46.63.

Fairbanks was the first UNM athlete to receive the award this outdoor season. The MWC announced Fairbanks as the recipient March 31 after he placed second at the Baldy Castillo Invitational.

He threw a career record of 217-10 to qualify for the regional meet. Fairbanks' throw was the fifth best in the country at the time.

Matt Henry said UNM has proven it has some talented athletes this season, which the MWC is recognizing.

"Most of the time, we can't even get one," he said. "I'm glad the conference can see that there is some special athletes here, too. Who knows, maybe we can get another one in there."

As far as his retirement, Matt Henry said he will still follow the program after the season.

Matt Henry has two sons, Kurt and Kyle, who are members of the team.

He said he will always have a love for UNM track and field, and some of the individual accomplishments this season will make it a good way to

go out.

"Yeah, I'm going to retire, but I always feel like I'm going to be around," he said. "I'm not going to be dead. I still have two sons here, and I'll still get to watch these special athletes. But for my last year, this is really an honor for me."

Track and Field at UCSD Triton Invitational

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