by Adrian Doerfler
Daily Lobo
The UNM track and field team had one of its best showings at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships under head coach Matt Henry on May 25-26 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Of the eight athletes who qualified for regionals, four qualified for nationals and two are hoping to advance as at-large bids.
Henry said it's a thrill that some of his athletes extended their seasons.
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"For me, personally, this weekend was a weekend of complete joy," he said. "Now we get another opportunity to go to the NCAA meet, and that's what you try to do. That's what your ultimate goal is."
Jeremy Johnson (5,000-meter run) and Jarrin Solomon (400) proved to be among the country's best in their events, finishing in the top five of what is widely considered the toughest regional in the country.
Johnson raced to a third place finish with a time of 14:01.43. Meanwhile, Solomon finished fifth at 46.55. Johnson is also in the running for an at-large bid in the 10,000 meters.
The women also had two top-five finishers in the 400- and 5,000-meter events. Senior Timmie Murphy finished fourth in the 5,000 meter with a time of 16:25.21, and Ariel Burr sprinted to a fifth place finish in the 400 at 52.85. The times were career bests for both runners.
Even though the Lobos had the fewest qualifiers since the regional format began in 2003, the Lobos will have the best representation at the NCAA Outdoor Championships under head coach Henry's tenure.
Each of the automatic qualifiers had previous experience in the regional meet, but none qualified for the NCAA meet until this year.
Henry said being on the regional stage before gave the athletes confidence in this season's meet.
"We've always had a fairly young team," he said. "These athletes are getting to the point where they're getting a little older, and that experience helps them tremendously."
His previous best year came in 2005 when two men and one woman qualified. This year will also mark the Lobos' best season since 1990, when four women and two men qualified for the championships.
Sophomore javelin thrower Katie Coronado finished sixth with a 163-2 toss, one spot shy of an automatic berth in the championships. Last year, she finished seventh in the regional and was expected to gain an at-large bid for the national championships, but was left out by the NCAA.
Henry said he would be surprised if Coronado didn't get a bid this season.
"I can't see how Katie can't get in right now," he said. "Of all of our competitors, she has been the most consistent for us this year. If she throws the way I think she can, Katie has the potential to become an All-American."
Men's javelin thrower Anthony Fairbanks finished seventh at the regional and matched his 2006 regional throw of 205-6. Fairbanks is close to getting an at-large bid. He came into the meet ranked 30th in the country, but only 26 athletes are selected in each event.
This year is Henry's last, as he announced his retirement during the indoor season. He isn't looking ahead right now and is excited about the NCAA Championships.
"I haven't thought about the future too much," he said. "I just know I'll always be involved with track and field."
