GUNNISON, CO - The regular season of track and field wrapped up for the Trojans at the Western Colorado Alumni Open where three different Trinidad State student-athletes posted NJCAA Championship qualifying times and two Trojans broke school records. Western Colorado, Colorado Mesa, and Adams State led to tough competition over the course of the meet but the Trojan tracka and field teams rose to the challenge. 

A hot pace was set in the men's 5,000 meters with the goal of getting athletes qualified to the NJCAA Championships. Sophomore TSC athlete Jarred Baca stuck on the leader for the 25 lap race before racing to victory, a personal best time, and a ticket to the NJCAA Championsihps over the final lap. Baca's time of 14:57.89 ranks him 14th in the NJCAA. Kyle Awelagte followed his teammate across the finish line in 2nd place with a personal best time of 15:44.04.

The first school record of the day was set in the men's 60 meters dash when Elijah Figueroa bested his own school record from last week of 7.34. Figueroa shot out of the blocks and flew to the finish to bag a time of 7.26 seconds. 

In the men's mile Vincent Kipchirchir highlighted some string performances from a host of Trojans. Kipchirchir spent the first half of the race toward the back of the pack of athletes. Over the final 800 meters Kipchirchir passed runner after runner to finish in 5th place and notch an NJCAA Championship qualifying time of 4:19.31 after conversion from high altitude. Collin Moore, Ayub Sayid and Daniel Recio also competed and finished in 10th, 12th and 13th place. 

The second heat of the 800 meters saw a Trojan flash across the line first when Scott Hubbard ripped the final lap of the race and blew past the leading athlete from Colorado Mesa in the final straightaway. 

Allen Allende was the lone TSC competitor in the 400 meters where he raced to a 5th place finish amongst a strong field and a time of 51.74 seconds. Allende returned in the 200 meters to continue his season long streak of running personal bests every race. He finished in 5th place and his time of 23.14 is a new school record even before some time is taken off due to racing on a flat track. Elijah Figueroa was close behind in a time of 23.37, but took the victory in his heat of the event. 

Loryn Trujillo added to the long list of Trojans notching lifetime best times with her performance in the 3,000 meters. The freshmen's time of 10:59.21 is currently the 24th fastest time in the NJCAA. 

Adrian Villarreal was the final NJCAA Qualifier for the Trojan's in the 3,000 meters. Amongst a deep field Villarreal sat deep in the field for the first few laps of the 15 lap race before turning on the jets and passing most of the field by the finish. His time after altitude conversion of 8:33.15 ranks him 21st in the NJCAA and qualifies him to compete in the event at the NJCAA Championships. Reagan Longei gave a national qualifying performance a good scare with a strong performance and personal best of 8:47.22 after altitude conversion. 

The Trojans will be back on the indoor oval for the final time of the 2023 season March 3rd and 4th at the NJCAA Championships in Topeka, Kansas. 

 

 

Men's 200 Meters

PL	NAME	YEAR	TEAM	TIME
5	Allen Allende	FR-1	Trinidad State	23.14
8	Elijah Figueroa	FR-1	Trinidad State	23.37

 

 

Men's 400 Meters

PL	NAME	YEAR	TEAM	TIME
5	Allen Allende	FR-1	Trinidad State	51.74

 

Men's 800 Meters

PL	NAME	YEAR	TEAM	TIME
7	Scott Hubbard	FR-1	Trinidad State	2:02.19

Men's Mile

PL	NAME	YEAR	TEAM	TIME
5	Vincent Kipchirchir	FR-1	Trinidad State	4:34.64
10	Collin Moore	FR-1	Trinidad State	4:46.24
12	Ayub Sayid	FR-1	Trinidad State	4:47.69
13	Daniel Recio	FR-1	Trinidad State	4:47.93

 

Men's 3000 Meters

PL	NAME	YEAR	TEAM	TIME
8	Adrian Villarreal	SO-2	Trinidad State	9:06.43
11	Reagan Longei	FR-1	Trinidad State	9:21.42
17	Vincent Kipchirchir	FR-1	Trinidad State	9:37.63

Men's 5000 Meters

PL	NAME	YEAR	TEAM	TIME
1	Jarred Baca	SO-2	Trinidad State	15:58.96
2	Kyle Awelagte	FR-1	Trinidad State	16:48.25