Kosgei leads New Mexico women to Mountain West championship

UNM’s women’s track and field team members celebrate after winning the program’s first team title in 10 years Saturday at the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

UNM’s Pamela Kosgei receives the first-place medal after winning the women’s 3,000 meters during the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center on March 1.

Sean Reider Sean Reider Sean Reider Journal Staff Writer

Published March 1, 2025 - 7:25 p.m. Modified March 2, 2025 - 9:24 a.m.

Three events. Three record-breaking wins.

Sounds about right. After all, Pamela Kosgei expected as much.

“Because I trust my training,” New Mexico’s star freshman said with a smile.

Behind three juggernaut performances from Kosgei, New Mexico women’s track and field claimed its first indoor conference title in a decade Saturday at Albuquerque Convention Center.

The Lobos scored 136.5 points to outpace second-place San Diego State (107) and third-place Colorado State (98.5), the league’s team champions last year.

In winning the mile, 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs, Kosgei scored 30 of UNM’s points alone, but was not named the women’s Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet; San Diego State sprinter Shaquena Foote earned the honor after winning the 200 and 400.

“We were scratching our heads as a staff (wondering) how she didn’t win track athlete of the meet,” UNM track and field head coach Darren Gauson admitted.

UNM's Pamela Kosgei, right, leads Boise State's Kaiya Robertson during the women's mile finals Saturday at the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque. Kosgei won the mile race.

Kosgei was more than content settling for three podium finishes: After dominating the 5,000 final Thursday in 15:53.72 seconds, Kosgei edged Boise State’s Kaiya Robertson in the mile (4:39.91) and pulled past fellow Lobo Marion Jepngetich to take home a victory in the 3,000 (9:08.28) Saturday,

In doing so, the native of Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya set two new meet records in the 3,000 and 5,000 and came within three seconds of former Lobo great Weini Kelati’s championship mile record — and Kosgei did all this as a freshman.

Helping UNM land an elusive team title might’ve been what she was most proud of, though.

“It makes me like, so happy because it makes other people — my teammates — run (well),” she said.

Gauson was named the women’s track Coach of the Year after leading the Lobos to their third indoor conference title since 2000, his first in 13 years as a head coach at UNM, Bradley and Lamar. In total, three Lobos — Kosgei, Judy Rono (800), Alyssa Gregory (pole vault) — notched titles across five events.

“Really means a lot to do (it), especially with this group,” Gauson said. “Really proud of our women. We had a lot of people step up in a big way.”

UNM men finish second

Gauson was only a handful of points shy of coaching another team — UNM’s men’s program — to a title, too.

Despite winning the 4x400 relay off Brodie Young’s sensational final leg, the Lobo men finished with 161 points, behind conference champion Colorado State (165) and ahead of third-place Utah State (109).

UNM's Habtom Samuel leads the men's 3,000 meters during the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Albuquerque Convention Center. Samuel was named the men's Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet for the second straight year.

“Me and (assistant coach Jared Berryman) were talking last night, we scored (the men’s meet) three times and we were down like, five points,” Gauson said. “I’m like, we’ll make up five points — and we made up five points.

“But the downside, Colorado State just had a hell of a meet on the men’s side and just sniped us.”

After setting new meet records in the 5,000 (13:33.43) and 3,000 (7:55.53) on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, Habtom Samuel was named the men’s Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet for the second-straight year.

The reigning outdoor 10,000 NCAA champion was joined by Young (400), Collins Kiprotich (mile) and Cam Watts (60) as one of five Lobos to win individual events; in addition to the 4x400, UNM also claimed a title in the distance medley relay Thursday.

Out of pads, on the podium

No champion might’ve been more unexpected than Watts. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound cornerback for the UNM football team won the 60 league title Saturday, surging past the halfway point to finish in 6.64 seconds — the second-best time in program history in just his second race as a Lobo.

Watts said he ran unattached in open events over the last month before officially joining the team for league’s indoor championships and running a 6.68 to win Friday’s prelims outright. Gauson said he was impressed at what he saw then, but it didn’t compare to his performance Saturday.

“As soon as we were like 10 meters in, I’m like, ‘this thing is over,’” Gauson laughed. “I said that to Jared and he just ran away. Super impressive, super proud of him.”

Watts said he intends to run the 100 and “probably” will add the 200 during UNM’s upcoming outdoor season. On top of spring football, he said he’s focused on improving his sprinting form and will likely cut five pounds for the spring.

UNM’s Cam Watts flexes after winning the men’s 60-meter dash on March 1 at the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships. A dual-sport athlete, Watts could pursue track or football over the summer.

“Because (I) still run like a football player,” Watts said.

Does he?

“He looks a lot tidier now than what he did even a few weeks ago,” Gauson said. “His start is a lot better, his drive looks a little better. But, yeah, he’s a heck of an athlete, super powerful.”

“He looks like a sprinter,” Young said. “And I’m so sure with a little bit of track training, he could do anything in outdoors. I’m so excited to watch run a 100, like — that guy will move. He’ll go fast.”

And if things go well enough, would Watts be interested in pursuing track over football?

“I’m here for both,” he said. “I think they go hand-in-hand … But if the time comes to try out for the NFL and I don’t make it, I’m fast enough to try out for track. We’ll see where either one takes me.”