UNM sets mark in distance medley

The New Mexico Lobos distance medley relay team set a school record on Thursday, the first day of the Mountain West Conference track and field meet at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

UNM’s team of senior Elmar Engholm, junior Mark Haywood and freshmen Kristian Hansen and Josh Kerr recorded a time of 9 minutes, 38.83 second.

The time ranks sixth in the nation. The top 16 make the NCAA Indoor Championships.

“To run the sixth fastest time in the country and set a school record with three people that are returning, that’s pretty impressive,” UNM coach Joe Franklin said.

The UNM women were second in the distance medley, behind Boise State, which won in 11:19.39. The Lobos (Sophie Connor, Larimar Rodriguez, Hanna Riker-Urrutia and Calli Thackery) ran 11:29.04.

New Mexico senior Kyra Mohns finished third in the pentathlon with 3,660 points. Fresno State sophomore Jestena Mattson won the event with 3,828 points. She was third in the long jump (18-1½) and third in the shot put (39-4).

Lobo sophomore Ryan Chase is in second place after the first day of the heptathlon with 3,028 points in four events. Colorado State’s Josh Cogdill leads with 3,179 points.