POINT LOMA, Calif. – The Western New Mexico Men's and Women's Track and Field teams turned in an impressive weekend performance at the PLNU Sea Lion Invite, highlighted by multiple event victories, five personal records, and four school records.
The Mustangs were led by a dominant showing in the 5,000 meters, where Cameron Shorty (Albuqurque, NM/Atrisco Heritage Academy High School) captured the men's title with a personal-best time of 15:10.70, while teammate Sam Ketcham finished close behind in second place with a time of 15:22.51.
On the women's side of the 5,000 meters, Aubrey Lozoya (Albuquerque, NM/Cottonwood Classic Preparatory) delivered a standout performance, winning the event with a time of 17:42.52. Lozoya's run marked a personal record and a new school record for Western New Mexico. McKenna Sahd (Angel Fire, NM/Cimarron HS) also recorded a strong performance in the event, finishing ninth overall with a personal-best time of 19:25.89.
Western New Mexico also saw record-breaking performances in the sprint events. Jay Taylor (Anthony, TX/Canutillo High School) set a school record in the 200 meters, finishing 16th overall with a time of 22.29. Taylor also competed in the 100 meters, placing 25th overall with a personal-best time of 11.11. In the same event, Luke Dexter-Quinn (Canutillo, TX/Burges High School) set another school record in the 100 meters, finishing 24th overall with a time of 11.10.
In the women's 200 meters, Veronika Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Cienega High School) posted a personal-best time of 28.14, continuing to show improvement in the sprint events.
Middle distance competition saw Dax Rios (Las Cruces, NM/Centennial High School) record a personal-best performance in the 800 meters, finishing 22nd overall with a time of 2:05.42, while Ameen Ibrahim (El Paso, TX/Pebble Hills HS) turned in a strong run in the 1,500 meters, placing eighth overall in 4:10.68.
In the field events, Derek Schuller (Bayard, NM/Cobre High School) delivered one of the top performances of the weekend, finishing eighth overall in the shot put with a throw of 15.37 meters, which also set a new school record.
Western New Mexico also posted several strong marks in the javelin throw. On the men's side, George Peru (Silver City, NM/Cobre HS) placed 10th overall with a throw of 48.11 meters. In the women's competition, Valarie Guerrero led the Mustangs with a ninth-place finish at 37.10 meters, followed by Aubrey Pino () in 10th place at 35.37 meters and Trinity Rios (Silver City, NM/Cobre High School), who recorded a throw of 25.32 meters.
Western New Mexico will next compete at the UTEP Miners Invitational, hosted by UTEP Miners track and field, on March 20–21 in El Paso, TX.
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).
