Mar. 30—Saturday evening in San Juan Capistrano, California, University of New Mexico freshman Ishmael Kipkurui ran the fastest 10,000 meters in NCAA history.
Right behind him was UNM teammate Habtom Samuel, a sophomore, who also surpassed the previous mark.
And, capping a historic night for UNM track and field, Lobos freshman Pamela Kosgei ran the second-fastest women's 10,000 in NCAA annals.
All this took place at THE TEN, a meet at which college and professional runners compete side by side. Kipkurui's time of 26:50.21 is nonetheless an NCAA record, though it doesn't count as a qualifying time for the NCAA Championships later this spring.
Samuel finished in 26:51.06. Both Lobos bettered the previous NCAA record of 26:52.72, set by Northern Arizona's Nico Young at this same meet a year ago. Their times did qualify the two Lobos for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, scheduled for Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo.
Unlike Kipkurui and Samuel, who finished 1-2 in THE TEN'S fastest heat, Kosgei finished ninth against a world-class field in her 10,000 heat. Yet, her time of 31:02.73 has been bettered in the college ranks only by Florida's Parker Valby, who ran a time of 30:50.43 last year.
The World Championships women's qualifying time is 30:20.00.
Kipkurui and Kosgei are from Kenya, Samuel from Eritrea.
Former Lobo Weini Kelati, a native of Eritrea, finished second in the 10,000 in 30:38.60 behind American Elise Cranny (30:36.56).
In the men's race, video from FloTrack showed Kikurui running away from the field in the final stretch, completing a bell lap timed at 55.82 seconds. Samuel outran Adrian Wildschutt for second.
Wildschutt also surpassed Young's record but is a professional runner from South Africa.
Graham Blanks, the former Harvard runner who defeated UNM's Samuel at the NCAA Cross Country Championships the past two years, finished fifth in the 10,000 on Saturday in a time of 26:57.30.
SPRING INVITE: Closer to home, Lobos went 1-2-3 in the women's 1,500 meters Saturday at UNM's own Spring Invite. Judy Rono crossed first in 4:20.77, followed by Brigid Manley (4:26.06) and Alice Seguin (4:26.10.).
The Lobos' Brodie Young, the Mountain West Conference indoor 400-meter champion, won the men's 100 meters in 10.61 seconds. UNM's Laylah Lawson won the women's 100 in 12:05.
Lobos Arian Milicija (16 feet, 11 inches) and Alyssa Gregory (12-4.75) won the men's and women's pole vault.
