UNM TRACK AND FIELD
Five Lobos to watch at the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships
UNM has multiple league leaders among its men's and women's teams
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The Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships kick off Thursday, the first day of a weekend that will see UNM鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 track teams vie for a bevy of league titles.
Five Lobos to watch as conference champions are determined in Clovis, Calif.:
Habtom Samuel
Events: 5k
As usual, perhaps the Lobo to watch 鈥� even if he鈥檚 only racing once this weekend.
After setting a new collegiate record over 5,000 meters in April, UNM鈥檚 star junior is the overwhelming favorite to win another league title in the event鈥檚 final Saturday. In fact, with an NCAA-best outdoor time of 13 minutes and 3.47 seconds, he could very much be considered the favorite to win his first NCAA outdoor title over that distance in June.
Pamela Kosgei
Events: 3,000 steeplechase, 5k
The reigning outdoor 5k and 10k NCAA champ will attempt to replicate what she did last year, sweeping the women鈥檚 3,000 steeplechase final on Thursday and the women鈥檚 5k final on Saturday. Like Samuel, she鈥檚 a big favorite to do so. Her 15:03.09 5k run in April is the fastest time in the league this season by 16.84 seconds.
Taniya Looney
Events: 100, 200, 4x100 relay
The Pittsburg State transfer has the league鈥檚 fastest times in the women鈥檚 100 (11.05) and 200 (23.16) this season, qualifying for the NCAA West Regional preliminaries in both events. Looney also runs the second leg of a 4x100 relay that finished third at the Mt. SAC Relays (44.91) in April.
Matthew Endr枚dy
Events: 800
The sophomore from Johannesburg is the league leader in the 1,500 after finishing in 3:37.66 in April. Endr枚dy, however, will only compete in the 800 this weekend; his season-best 1:46.21 is just over two seconds off Arkansas鈥� Rivaldo Marshall鈥檚 NCAA-leading time of 1:44.15.
Eva Ngom
Events: 200, 400, 4x400 relay
The true freshman from Katy, Texas has made an impact for the Lobos this season, running a league-best 51.83 at the Desert Heat Classic earlier this month. Ngom is also set to run the anchor leg of UNM鈥檚 4x400 relay.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
