The University of New Mexico Lobos secured national titles in three separate events over the course of the four-day NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which took place in Eugene, Oregon, on June 11-14. The Lobos sent a total of 11 athletes to Eugene. They sent only one athlete in 2024. The Lobos finished fifth nationally on the men's side and ninth on the women's.
The Lobos took first and second place in the men's 10,000 meter. Ishmael Kipkurui became the national champion with a time of 29:07.70, and Habtom Samuel finished with a time of 29:08.73 and became the national runner-up after having won the race last season.
Despite finishing next to each other in the standings, the two runners had very different races. Kipkurui started near the front and stayed there before creating a large gap near the finish. Samuel, however, was at the back of the pack for most of the race and had to bump and claw his way through before eventually making a move and joining his teammate at the front.
Samuel was also the national runner-up in the men’s 5,000m, while Kipkurui finished in seventh. Samuel simply turned on the afterburners too late and ran out of room before he could catch the leader, while Kipkurui looked like he was still fatigued from his effort in the 10,000m two days prior.
Pamela Kosgei was able to grab two national titles, in the women’s 10,000m and the 5,000m with times of 31:17.82 and 15:33.96, respectively. She was especially dominant in the 10,000m, having set a new meet record and personal best and finishing over 14 seconds faster than second place. She decided to stay in second for a majority of the time, but took off and had no chance of ever being caught with about a third of the race remaining.
Marion Jepngetich also competed in the 5,000m and finished with a respectable time of 15:35.14 in fourth place.
Matthew Kosgei finished ninth in the semifinals of the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, which was good enough to qualify for the final round. However in the finals he finished sixth, which ended the Lobos' chances of competing for the team championship title.
The Lobos also competed in the women’s 4x400m relay, finishing 16th in the semifinal round and not qualifying for the finals. The team consisted of Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer, Hanna Kiess, Rebecca Grieve and Sofia Pineda.
Judy Rono ran in the semifinal round of the women’s 1,500m, finishing 18th.
Sophia McDonnell competed in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, finishing 21st.
Jaden McKelvey-Francis is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at editorinchief@dailylobo.com or on X @jadenmckelvey
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