Trojans Set Fast Times in New Mexico

Trojans Set Fast Times in New Mexico

The Trinidad State Junior College track and field teams traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico over the weekend to compete against some great competition at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The University of New Mexico hosted the two day track meet that saw records fall and national qualifying marks set for the Trojans. Sophomores Bailey Smith and Joseph Enright got the meet off to a hot start Friday night as they posted national qualifying marks in the Men's 3,000 meter run. Head Coach Lauren Masterson praised the two student-athletes, saying, "Bailey and Joseph did a great job competing against a talented field to get their first ever indoor qualifying marks. I'm proud of how focused they were throughout the race on getting the job done." Miguel Coca finished 5th overall in the men's 3,000 meters against a field of top Division 1 and Division 2 NCAA competition. 

Coca returned to the track Saturday afternoon in the men's Mile where he broke the Trinidad State school record, previously held by Elias Gedyon who was a two-time National Champion while at TSJC. Coca's time of 4:15.90 currently ranks him 5th in all of the NJCAA after his time is converted to account for being run at high altitude. "Miguel has had a lot of good performances for us, but that mile record has been on his mind for awhile," said Coach Masterson. "The pacing of his race wasn't perfect, but he did a good job tactically to put himself in position to place highly and put himself in the TSJC record books." Bailey Smith would continue his weekend of success by posting another national qualifying mark in the men's mile. Smith's time of 4:28.65 converts to a 2 second personal best time and was good enough to place him 25th in a deep field. 

The Trojan's weekend was wrapped up with a pair of heat victories in the 800 meter event. Ethan Coyhis doubled back from a Friday night heat victory in the 600 meters to lead his 800 meter race from wire to wire. Coyhis' time of 1:58.17 notched him his first national qualifying mark. Ashlee Ferrari took to the track only a few minutes later to bag a victory of her own, and a 14 second personal best in the distance. Coach Masterson was pleased with the middle distance runners saying, "Ethan and Ashlee both ran like seasoned veterens in races they are both still learning. Ethan knew what time he needed to run to qualify for nationals, and simply ran away from the field to do it. Ashlee is brand new to the 800, but competed like she's won plenty of races at that distance before."

Both Trojan teams will now prepare for the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships to be held in Lynchburg, Virginia the first Friday and Saturday of March, where they'll be taking the largest contingent of student-athletes the program's have ever qualified.  

 

Full TSJC Results

Sheilah Cheruiyot; 3,000m- 21st Place- 11:01.93; Mile- 21st Place- 5:29.29

Ashlee Ferrari; 600m- 27th Place- 1:46.49; 800m- 25th Place- 2:28.52

Sharon Jesang; Mile- 36th Place- 6:07.85

Miguel Coca; 3,000m- 5th Place- 8:35.92; Mile- 7th Place- 4:15.90- **School Record

Ethan Coyhis; 600m- 5th Place- 1:22.37; 800m- 14th Place- 1:58.17- *National Qualifier

Joseph Enright; 3,000m- 18th Place- 9:02.86- *National Qualifier; Mile- 37th Place- 4:42.64

Brayan Flores; 200m- 47th Place- 24.46; 60m- 58th Place- 7.71

Jose Ildefonso; 3,000m- 30th Place- 9:54.79; Mile- 40th Place- 4:53.14

Felix Kemei; 3,000m- 16th- 9:01.36; Mile- 28th Place- 4:30.94

Alejandro Salazar; 600m- 12th Place- 1:29.25; 800m- 26th Place- 2:07.04

Andy Setser; 3,000m- 31st Place- 9:56.69; Mile- 41st Place- 4:55.85

Bailey Smith; 3,000m- 17th Place- 9:02.84- *National Qualifier; Mile- 25th Place- 4:28.65- *National Qualifier

Micah Stanton; 3,000m- 23rd Place- 9:06.95; Mile- 36th Place- 4:41.86