Kelati sets UNM mark at Millrose Games

While the University of New Mexico closed out its indoor regular season with the Don Kirby Collegiate Elite Invitational on Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center, a Lobo was making history in New York.

Sophmore Weini Kelati, running in the prestigious Millrose Games and donning the familiar turquoise jersey, finished in sixth place in the women’s 3,000 meters, setting a school record in the event in 8:53.98. The mark was previously held by Kelati’s teammate Ednah Kurgat (8:57.47).

Kelati got caught up in a fall early in the race and had to rally from ninth place. Eventually she was fourth at 1,600 meters and held that position for another 400. It’s a top-10 time in the NCAAs this year.

Back in Albuquerque, Michael Wilson and Kristian Hansen went 1-2 in the 800-meter run with their times of 1:49.94 (1:49.33 converted) and 1:50.15 (1:49.54 converted), respectively to highlight Lobo efforts Saturday at the Don Kirby.

Wilson’s win was the lone Lobo victory on the day among a stacked field, with athletes from Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, Oregon State, Utah and Washington State from the Pac-12, Colorado State, UNLV, Utah State, Fresno State, and San Diego State from the Mountain West, and New Mexico State, Eastern New Mexico among others.

Larimar Rodriguez represented the Lobo women with a top-three finish of 2:14.62 (2:13.87 converted) in her first 800 this year. Behind her in sixth was Steffi Jones, who crossed the line at 2:15.20 (2:14.45 converted), resulting in a season best for the sophomore.

Jonny Glen continued the success on the track for the Lobos with a runner-up result in the mile, running a personal-best 4:05.80 converted time (4:11.27). His previous best was a 4:11.15 that he ran at the UNM Team Invitational earlier this season, an improvement of 5.35 seconds.

On the women’s side, MacKenzie Everett produced a top-10 result with a season-best 5:07.94 (converted) in the mile, placing her 10th overall.

In the triple jump, Aidan Quinn continued to increase his season-best mark with a 49-5.50 that he achieved on his third jump. The freshman finished tied for fifth in the event while improving his mark by 2.5 inches from last Saturday.

Junior Cathilee Mullings set a personal best in the women’s triple jump with a 40-6 to finish ninth.

New Mexico State’s top performance Saturday came from its women’s 4x400 squad. Camira Haughton, AsjahWallace, Brooke Wallace and Lanie Whelpley placed fourth when the team clocked in at 3:41.61, second fastest in NMSU history.

Likewise, Eastern New Mexico’s 4x400 team of Kandice Miles, Danee Bustos, Kiana Covington and Maijah Mathis shattered the school mark, finishing at 3:56.15 and 17th in the 19-team field.

At Texas Tech, Eldorado graduate Crissey Amberg had second-place finishes in the 3,000 (10:22.06) and mile (4:56.84).

The Lobos return to the Albuquerque Convention Center on Feb. 21 for the MWC indoor championships. The Aggies prep for the WAC meet at Boise, Idaho on Feb. 22-23.