UNM ATHLETICS
The champ is back: New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei advances to NCAA 10K national championship
Looney sets new school record, advances to women's 100, 200 quarterfinals
Published
Pamela Kosgei is headed back to Hayward Field.
New Mexico鈥檚 reigning 10,000-meter national champion finished the event in 31 minutes and 27.58 seconds Thursday night at the NCAA West Regional Preliminaries, securing a spot in the national final at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Racing at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the sophomore from Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya narrowly finished second to BYU鈥檚 Jane Hedengren (31:27.30) in Thursday鈥檚 national semifinal. The two led a field of 12 qualifiers for the title-deciding final at Hayward Field on June 11, the second day of the outdoor championship meet.
Kosgei was the only Lobo to qualify out of the field: Christina Nisoli (34:16.56) finished 30th overall while Mercy Kirarei did not finish.
Kosgei won NCAA titles in the 5K and 10K as a freshman, finishing the latter event in 31:07.28 to demolish the previous meet record by nearly 40 seconds. In doing so, she became the first Lobo to win the event since Weini Kelati did it in 2019. She also won a championship in the 5K, securing a rare distance double-title sweep.
Kosgei will compete next in the women鈥檚 5K semifinals Saturday, the final day of the NCAA West Regional Preliminaries.
Around the track
Taniya Looney advanced to Saturday鈥檚 finals in the women鈥檚 100 and 200, setting a wind-legal program record of 11.07 in the former event. The Pittsburg State transfer will race in the quarterfinals of both events Saturday.
Eva Ngom (52.24) finished 21st overall in the women鈥檚 400 first round, clinching a spot in Saturday鈥檚 quarterfinals. Lou-Anne Pouzancre (53.70) did not advance.
Tilly Simpson (4:16.04), Li-Mari Dekker (4:16.72) and Jasmine Wood (4:16.72) all advanced out of the women鈥檚 1,500 first round and will race in Saturday鈥檚 quarterfinals.
Kylie Keeney (2:08.73) finished 39th overall in the women鈥檚 800 first round and did not advance.
Adryana Shelby (13.98) finished 44th overall in the first round of the women鈥檚 100 hurdles and did not advance.
Arian Milicija (5.07 meters) tied for 28th overall in the first round of the men鈥檚 pole vault and did not advance.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
