by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
If Tiyana Peters can repeat her results from last weekend, she can help lead the UNM track and field team to success the rest of the season.
Peters won the B section of the high jump at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on Friday, clearing 5-8 3/4 to defeat a field of 19 in Austin, Texas.
Although she didn't compete in the A section - which was limited to 13 of the country's most elite jumpers - Peters' win was impressive, UNM head coach Matt Henry said.
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"Since I've been at New Mexico, we've never had anybody win the Texas Relays - I don't care what division it was," he said. "She beat some nice ladies. I'm really happy for Tiyana and her performance."
UNM javelin thrower Katie Coronado held her own in the A section Saturday, finishing third with a throw of 158-00.
Coronado's throw beat some of the most talented throwers in the country, including All-Americans Sigrun Fjeldsted and Krista Woodward from Georgia. Coronado was the only American and underclassman to finish in the top six of the A section.
Henry said Coronado proved she can compete with the nation's best in her event.
"She beat some really great girls there," he said. "That's really special what Katie did."
The men's 4x400-meter relay team also competed at the Texas Relay's, falling short of qualifying for the NCAA Midwest Regional meet by less than two seconds.
The foursome of Taylor Siemon, Kurt Henry, Jarrin Solomon and Randle McCain finished in 3:11.69 to place 14th overall. Their time was 1.69 seconds off the regional qualifying mark.
Henry said the meet was a good shot for the team to hit the mark, but the 4x4 squad still has the
potential to qualify.
"We got tangled up on one of the legs, and that hurt us really bad," he said. "That's not an excuse, but I think they're really capable of running 3:09. We just got to put it all together."
Coronado, Peters and javelin-thrower Anthony Fairbanks all previously qualified for the regional meet earlier this season.
At last weekend's Stanford Invitational, distance runners Jeremy Johnson and Timmie Murphy also punched their tickets to the Midwest Regional, qualifying in the 5,000-meter run.
Murphy finished fifth in her race, hitting a time of 16:28 to secure her spot at regionals. Her time was the fastest recorded in the women's 5,000 under Henry's tenure.
Johnson qualified in the men's 5,000 after he placed ninth with a time of 13:50, more than 30 seconds faster than his previous career best.
Henry said it was good for Murphy and Johnson to qualify at the Stanford Invitational and not have to worry about it in later meets.
"Both of them had a really nice day out there," he said. "They went out there for a reason, and they did what we needed them to do."
The Texas Relays is one of the most prestigious meets in the country for sprinting and field events, while the Stanford Invitational is known for attracting some of the best distance runners in
the nation.
UNM will send a number of athletes to another big meet this weekend - the Mt. San Antonio College Relays, which features elite competitors from the collegiate and professional ranks.
Henry said it's a privilege to have Lobo athletes participate in some of the more competitive meets in the country.
"That's special," he said. "We don't always get a lot of people in those meets, but we get what I think is deserving for us. It's nice to have those opportunities. I'm looking forward to this week at Mt. SAC and another great week."
Track and field at Mt. San Antonio College Relays
Thursday, TBA
Walnut, Calif.
