Olympic athletes with New Mexico ties: Daily recap for Monday, Aug. 5

American Noah Lyles, in winning the men’s 100-meter dash in the 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday, earned the unofficial of title of “World’s Fastest Man.”

But Lyles wasn’t faster than Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu — a track star at New Mexico Junior College — on Monday.

Makarawu and Lyles ran in separate qualifying heats for the men’s 200-meter dash. Makarawu crossed the finish line in 20.07 seconds, while Lyles clocked in at 20.19 seconds.

Though Makarawu finished second in his heat and Lyles won his heat, both qualified for the 200m semifinals, scheduled for at 12:02 p.m. Wednesday on NBC. The finals will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

The 23-year-old Makarawu, who was the fourth fastest of the 43 runners who competed in the qualification round, wrapped up his junior college career in 2024 having won seven national titles — including the 100-meter and 200-meter titles this year.

One other Olympic athlete with New Mexico ties was in Stade de France on Monday.

Highland High School alum Anicka Newell, who competes in pole vault for Canada, was not among the 20 competitors to advance to the final round.

In the qualifying round Monday, Newell cleared 4.2 meters (13 feet, 9¼ inches) her first attempt and cleared 4.4 meters (14-5¼) in her third attempt, but failed to clear 4.55 meters (14-11).

The 11 competitors who cleared 4.55 meters moved on to the finals, as did the nine competitors who cleared 4.4 meters on their first attempt.

Newell, 30, was competing in her third Olympics.

Looking back

Here’s how Olympic athletes with New Mexico ties have fared in 2024 events that have already wrapped up.

• Albuquerque native Mariah Duran finished in 22nd place in women’s street skateboard.
• Former New Mexico Highlands wide receiver Kevon Williams is captain of the U.S. men’s rugby sevens team that finished in seventh place.
• Former UNM teammates Victor Perez (France) and Gavin Green (Malaysia) finished in fourth and tied for 33rd place, respectively, in men’s golf.

Looking ahead

Here are the Olympic athletes with New Mexico ties who will compete this week:

• Former New Mexico State golfers Alena Sharp (Canada) and Ursula Wikstrom (Finland) and UNM golfer Manon de Roey (Belgium) will tee off in women’s golf Wednesday through Saturday.
• Former UNM track star Josh Kerr is competing in the men’s 1,500 meters for Great Britain. The finals are at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.
• Albuquerque resident and former UNM volunteer track and field coach Alicja Konieczek is competing in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. The finals are at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.
• NMJC track star LaCarthea Cooper is competing on the women’s 4x100-meter relay for the Bahamas. The first round is scheduled to begin at 3:10 a.m. Thursday on NBC. The finals will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday on NBC.
• Los Alamos native Chase Jackson is competing in women’s shot put for the United States. The qualification round begins at 2:25 a.m. Thursday on Peacock. The finals will be at 11:40 a.m. Friday on NBC.
• Former UNM track star Weini Kelati is competing in the women’s 10,000 meters for the United States. The finals are at 12:55 p.m. Friday on NBC.
• Former UNM distance runners Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) and Calli Thackery (Great Britain) will compete in the women’s marathon, beginning at midnight Sunday on NBC.