Coming off back-to-back personal bests for 400 meters and entering seventh place on the University of New Mexico’s all time indoor track list, Kahari Wilbon has had a running start to the year.
As a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing, his studies and athletic endeavors cross-pollinate, allowing him to achieve successes in both, Wilbon said.
“The principles that come within marketing are perseverance, being able to do more than one thing and keep yourself oriented while multi-tasking and making sure you have a strategic and proven plan to make sure you are the most successful you can be,” Wilbon said.
UNM is very diverse both within and outside of athletics, and coming to the University has allowed him to branch out and meet new people, Wilbon said.
“On my team there are people from Hungary, Scotland, China and Kenya, who I otherwise wouldn’t have met,” WIlbon said.
Prior to a run, praying, listening to music, eating right and fulfilling tasks according to an internal timeline is what sets him up for success, Wilbon said.
Wilbon has consistently maintained a sub 49-second time for 400 runs during outdoor campaigns. It was during the New Mexico Team Open 2026 that he ran below 47 seconds for the first time, with a 46.94 raw performance (47.04 converted).
Just prior to this, he ran in the 200 setting a personal best of 21.49 indoors (21.56 converted), during his season opener, at the Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Invitational 2026.
He placed fourth in the New Mexico Team Open for 400, and for 4x400 relay in the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.
As a Black student, it has been simpler than expected to find Black spaces at UNM, Wilbon said.
“There is an assumption that in the Midwest there isn’t a very high population of Black people, so it would be difficult to find a community, but I’d say that there is a very good population of Black people both on and off campus that have made me feel welcomed,” Wilbon said.
Wilbon looks forward to making measurable progress towards his athletic, academic and professional goals.
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“My big goal for this season is to get on the podium at conference and make sure that I secure the team some points. One thing I could work on is managing my time a little better, because sometimes I procrastinate and put things off,” Wilbon said.
Wilbon said he is inspired by Black athletes such as Quincy Hall, who won the Gold medal for the USA in the 400 at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Jacory Patterson, who currently ranks third in the men’s 400 worldwide.
“People might put you on a pedestal no matter what sport you do, it is important to make sure that everyone is treated fairly. Making sure that everyone realizes that we are all people, making sure everyone is respected, and that today is not my day, but I’m going to move on and be better without backlash from the public,” Wilbon said.
Wilbon hopes to continue running after college, and participate in the 2028 Olympics. After an athletic career, he wants to leverage his skills in marketing and work for a sports agency, promoting under-represented sports including track and field, swimming and golf, Wilbon said.
“It could be so much bigger, there are so many different things to follow so people get confused, but there are so many opportunities,” Wilbon said.
Shin Thant Hlaing is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
