assistantsports@dailylobo.com
@JROppenheim
Junior Kendall Spencer earned two first-place finishes at the Don Kirby Tailwind Collegiate Invitational on Saturday, one of several strong performances turned in by New Mexico in its lone home outdoor meet of the year.
The 2012 indoor long jump NCAA champion, Spencer recorded a leap of 25 feet, 1/2 inch in that event at the Don Kirby despite an all-conditions personal-best mark by teammate Zach Smith. The junior placed second with a 23-6 and 1/4 jump.
Spencer’s long jump win came after he ran the anchor leg for UNM’s 4×100-meter relay-winning squad. Thomas Trujillo, Derek Montoya, Smith and Spencer ran a 41.16 time. Smith and Spencer nearly missed the final exchange, but the team possibly finished with the fourth-best Mountain West outdoor time this season.
“I give today about a B-minus,” Spencer said after the long jump ended. “I went out there and executed what I wanted to execute in practice. Really, this was just another day to have fun.”
The Don Kirby meet was UNM’s third event of the outdoor season, which provides some challenges not experiencaed on the indoor track. Those range from weather conditions to differences in depth perception to variation in the track size.
UNM head coach Joe Franklin said it was like the “first meet of the year” now that his team has adjusted to the outdoor track.
“Some very positive things happened today,” he said. “We’re excited for the next three weeks.”
In all, UNM had six first-place finishes in the 10-team meet, competing against Adams State, Colorado College, Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis College, Grand Canyon, New Mexico Highlands, New Mexico State, Colorado-Colorado Springs, Western State and West Texas A&M.
In his outdoor debut, senior Ty Kirk won the triple jump with a 48-8 and 1/4 leap. Junior distance runner Gabe Aragon clocked a first-place 1:51.60 in the 800 meters, while teammate sophomore Alex Herring was sixth in 1:53.29.
Senior Amber Menke claimed the pole vault with a 13-1 and 1/2 leap. The Albuquerque native clipped the backside of the bar after going over it, but the bar bounced and stayed up. Junior Margo Tucker placed third in the vault with a 12-9 and 1/2 mark.
Junior Lexi Ross added a first-place finish in the javelin with a 142-5 throw.
Freshman Haley Sanner ran strong in her first 400 hurdles at the college level, clocking 1:02.89 for second place.
UNM had other second-place finishes from J.P. Cordova in the 1,500 (3:57.48); the men’s 4×400 relay team of Montoya, Chris Kline, Aragon and Herring (3:17.67); Yeshemabet Turner in the long jump (19-8 3/4) and the triple jump (40-7); and the women’s 4×400 relay team of Zoe Howell, Jasmin McCray, Tawsha Brazley, and Shirley Pitts (3:50.75).
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Third-place marks came from Precious Selmon in the 100 hurdles (14.54); Howell in the 400 (56.69); and the women’s 4×100 relay team of Kayla Fisher-Taylor, Turner, Casey Dowling and Aasha Marler (46.79).
Competing as an unattached athlete, UNM senior Richard York won the javelin with a personal-best 215-8 throw. Former Lobo and 2012 Olympian Jarrin Solomon ran a 45.70 to take the 400.
