Habtom Samuel breaks NCAA 5,000m record

New Mexico distance runner Habtom Samuel set a new collegiate record in the 5,000 meters, crossing in 13 minutes, 5.87 seconds. Teammate Pamela Kosgei came within a fraction of a second from also setting a new 5,000 meters collegiate record on the women’s side.

Samuel and Kosgei set those program bests Thursday during heats at the Bryan Clay Invitational on Thursday. The event finals were late Friday night.

The Lobos recorded 15 personal bests and five UNM all-time Top 10 marks on Thursday to go along with the national collegiate record set by Samuel.

Athletes from over 400 universities are at the event taking place at Long Beach State and Azusa Pacific University, according to the meet website, bryanclayinvitational.com.

Only Nico Young, Romain Legendre and Graham Blanks have run a faster 5,000 meters racing at that distance.

Samuel’s teammate Ishmael Kipkurui, the NCAA record holder in the 10,000 meters, finished second in Thursday’s 5,000 meters at 13:09.24 to move to fourth on the all-time outdoor list behind only Samuel, Abdihamid Nur, and Henry Rono.

Kosgei finished just 0.27 seconds shy of matching Parker Valby’s collegiate record in the 5,000 meters. Even so, at 14:52.45, she still won her heat easily. Kosgei has now posted times that rank among the Top 10 collegiate performances in history in the indoor 3,000 meters, indoor 5,000 meters, outdoor 10,000 meters, outdoor steeplechase and outdoor 5,000 meters in her freshman year.

MEN’S 100 METERS: In his first 100-meter race since breaking the UNM school record in the event last Friday at UTEP, Cam Watts won the second heat and finished third overall with a 10.31 mark nullified by strong 2.8 m/s winds. Elijah Jefferson (10.60) finished sixth in the second heat and 19th overall.

WOMEN’S 400-METER HURDLES: In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Hanna Kiess crossed in 59.29 to finish fifth overall — a time that moves her up to No. 4 on the UNM all-time outdoor list.

MEN’S 200 METERS: In the men’s 200 meters — the final event of the day for the Lobos in Long Beach — Brodie Young led the way with a 21.03 outdoor best that moves him into the UNM All-Time Top 10 at No. 10.

AGGIES RESULTS: New Mexico State’s Alesha Lane finished with the Aggies’ top mark in the discus, throwing 51.07 meters to finish in the top 10 of her field. Kamryn Cadle threw the shot put 13.46 meters to place 25th in her field.

Thomas Croshaw finished first in his heat in the 5,000 meters, posting a time of 13:56.51 after chasing down the leader, Steven Goldy, on the last lap.

Khloe Bird’s time of 36:01.24 was good for the top spot in the 10,000 meters.