The UNM track and field team got off to a strong start by recording several personal bests and first place finishes at the Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational on Saturday.
Head coach Joe Franklin said the team did a lot of good things at the team’s only home meet of the outdoor season. He said adding athletes such as Aasha Marler and Samantha Bowe was positive and said he anticipates getting better each weekend.
Marler had a busy day, competing in three events. She finished third in the women’s 100-meter dash with a time of 12.20. Marler also finished in second place with a mark of 20 feet 3 3/4 inches in the long jump, with teammate Bowe leaping 19 feet 9 1/2 inches to come in fourth.
Marler finished the day by helping the Lobos come in first and second in the women’s triple jump event. She exploded for a jump of 42 feet 9 3/4 inches for the top finish, narrowly edging teammate Jannell Hadnot, who cleared 42 feet 9 inches.
New Mexico landed five of the top 10 finishes in the men’s long jump, but it was former Lobo Kendall Spencer who snagged the top spot with a jump of 25 feet 4 1/2 inches. Allan Hamilton (24 feet 5 3/4 inches), Yannick Roggatz (24 feet 4 1/4 inches), Samuel Trigg (23 feet 7 1/2 inches) and Scott Bajere (22 feet 7 1/4 inches) took spots three through six, respectively. Trigg also took first in the men’s triple jump, notching a mark of 50 feet 3 1/4 inches.
Kyra Mohns also competed in multiple events, setting a personal record in the women’s javelin throw. Her throw of 125 feet 11 inches was the best mark, while Bowe finished in fourth with a distance of 109 feet 6 inches.
“That was actually four meters over my (personal record),” Mohns said. “I definitely want to throw 44 meters (approximately 144 feet 4 inches) and hopefully that’ll get me to regionals.”
Mohns was part of three Lobos to finish in the top 10 of the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Holly Van Grinsven ran 14.10 to come in second, Bowe finished in 14.19 for third, and Mohns in 15.45 for an eighth place finish.
Mohns also lead one of the 1600 meter relay teams to a fifth place finish with a run of 4:17.69. The team of Haley Sanner, Zoe Howell, Larimar Rodriguez and Faith Cobb ran 3:53.31 to take first in the event.
New Mexico also performed well in the pole vault event. The Lobos recorded three of the top five finishers in both divisions. Logan Pflibsen reached a height of 16 feet 6 3/4 inches to finish in first place on the men’s side while Katherine Whiting hit 11 feet 11 3/4 inches to come in first for the women.
Whiting said it was a strong performance for the team, especially for the first outdoor meet. She said her teammates help motivate and push each other all the time in hopes to reach new heights.
“I’m always pushing for that next bar,” Whiting said. “Four meters is what is really in my sights and putting up a regional mark is my goal for the year overall.”
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Joseph Kloeppel earned a first place finish in the men’s high jump clearing 6 feet 8 3/4 inches. His teammate Markus Miller finished just behind him in second, with a mark of 6 feet 6 3/4 inches.
“That was my first outdoor meet collegiately and it felt good,” Kloeppel said. “I was hoping to clear (that mark); that’s what I ended up getting and I almost had a personal record.”
Grand Canyon tallied the highest women’s total with 101.5. The Lobos came in second with a score of 94. On the men’s side, New Mexico topped the scoring at 111, followed by Grand Canyon with 100.
The Lobos also sent five runners to compete at the Stanford Invitational, each turning in times that are potential strong enough for regional marks.
There, in the men’s steeplechase, Elmar Engholm finished in 8:40.04 to finish fifth overall, while teammate Graham Thomas did so in 8:48.15 to win his section.
Alice Wright clocked a time of 16:01.67 to finish in sixth place of her women’s 5000-meter section.
Dan Milechman ran the men’s 10,000 meter in a time of 29:29.80. He finished 24th in his section, but the time might still good enough for a postseason bid.
Natasha Bernal turned in an impressive debut. She ran the women’s steeplechase for the first time, and recorded the second-best time in school history. Her time of 10:21.32 was good enough for third place in her section.
“For a freshman to do what she did going in to that type of race is impressive…and she fell during the race,” Franklin said.
New Mexico will travel to Tempe, Arizona on Friday to compete at the Sun Angel Classic. The all-day event will take place April 8-9. The Lobos will be on the road for the remainder of the outdoor season.
Robert Maler is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers cross country, tennis, and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @robert_maler.
