UNM ATHLETICS
Five Lobos to compete for national titles at NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Samuel, Kosgei to compete for 5k titles after narrowly missing out last year
Published
For a handful of Lobos, a national title is within reach this weekend.
With at least two runners eyeing podium finishes, New Mexico will have five representatives competing across six events Friday and Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Racing at Randal Tyson Track Center, Habtom Samuel is considered the odds-on favorite to win the men’s 5,000-meter final Friday. UNM’s star junior ran a 13-minute, 5.21-second 5K at Boston University’s Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in December, a time that’s stood throughout the season as the fastest in Division I.
“He’s just looking really good right now, probably a lot stronger than last year … We’re really focused on the national championship,” UNM head track and field coach Darren Gauson said in February. “ … He’s definitely someone that’s in contention to win one national championship in the 5K but hopefully be in the mix (for) two with the 5K and 3K.”
Despite being one of the most decorated runners in program history, Samuel is still vying for his first NCAA indoor national title. The Keren, Eritrea native finished second in the indoor 5K last year, missing a championship by less than half a second.
Samuel will be joined in the 5K final by Evans Kiplagat, the Lobos’ second-fastest runner at that distance. The junior from Eldoret, Kenya clocked a 13:18.05 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener for the ninth-best Division I time this season.
UNM’s Pamela Kosgei is also expected to contend for a title in Friday’s women’s 5K final after running the sixth-fastest Division I women’s time (15:05.41) in December. The reigning NCAA outdoor 5K champion finished a narrow third in the indoor final last season, running a 15:07.57 behind Alabama runner Doris Lemngole’s first-place finish at 15:05.93.
Samuel and Kosgei will also lead the way for the Lobos in Saturday’s 3K finals after recording the sixth (7:37.44) and 10th fastest (8:44.91) Division I times in their respective races. UNM’s Marion Jepngetich is set to join Kosgei in the 3K final for her NCAA indoor championships debut following the sophomore’s 8:45.20 at the 2026 Husky Classic.
UNM’s Matthew Endrödy will race in the men’s mile semifinals Friday. The sophomore from Johannesburg must advance beyond Friday’s semifinal races to make it to Saturday’s final.
All races can be streamed via ESPN+.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.
