Only three meets into the 2023 Outdoor Track season the Trojans have notched more NJCAA Championship qualifying marks than ever before and rewritten two school records in the sprint events.
Dr. Dan Caprioglio Invitational
The Trinidad State Track teams opened their seasons March 18th at the Dr. Dan Caprioglio Invitational hosted by CSU-Pueblo. The cool morning temperatures helped yield fast times in both the men's and women's 10,000 meters. Freshmen Kyle Awelagte paced himself conservatively in the early laps of the more than six-mile race. After half way Awelagte increased his pace, passing a number of competitors to finish in 17th place with a time that qualifies him to compete at the NJCAA Championships at the end of May. Loryn Trujillo stepped on the track a few moments after Awelagte finished with her sights set on a fast time in the women's 10,000 meters. The Freshmen from Rio Rancho, New Mexico stalked a pair of runners from Fort Lewis College for the early laps of the longest contested track event. With each lap that passed Trujillo pushed farther below the NJCAA Qualifying standard. When Trujillo completed her final lap she posted the top NJCAA performance in the event, and held that spot for over two weeks.
Less than two hours later in the day sprinters Elijah Figueroa and Allen Allende lined up for the shortest event on the track, the 100 meters, next to athletes from the Air Force Academy and Colorado College. Figueroa shot out of the blocks with Allende a few steps behind and the competitors trailing the two Trojans. Allende closed ground but Figueroa held on for a narrow win and school record; with both athletes being timed at 11.36 seconds.
Cody McBride/Distance in the Dark
The spring break is a time to rest and relax for most, but a handful of Trojan athletes travelled to Phoenix, Arizona to compete in the Cody McBride/Distance in the Dark Invitational hosted by Paradise Valley Community College. Scott Hubbard took the 800 meter victory in a photo finish with an athlete from Arizona Christian. Three Trojans competed well in the 5,000 meters and cemented two NJCAA Championship qualifying times. Vincent Kipchirchir finished second in the event in a personal best time of 15:10. Ayub Sayid was close behind in third place and a personal best time of 15:12. Reagan Longei narrowly missed the NJCAA qualifying time in 4th place and 15:15.
CSU Pueblo Open
Following the spring break holiday the entirety of the Trinidad State track teams were back in action in Pueblo, Colorado on April 1st. Sophomore Reagan Longei got the meet off to a hot start in the men's 10,000 meters. Longei followed a pack of runners from UC-Colorado Springs for most the race before sprinting away in the final laps to finish 4th place and post the fastest time in the NJCAA to date in the event, taking the top spot from teammate Kyle Awelagte. Only a few minutes later the men's 3,000 meter Steeplechase got underway with two Trojans lining up for the event commonly regarded as the most grueling in track and field. Ayub Sayid and Vincent Kipchirchir shuffled back and forth amongst a large field of 4-year college athletes; flying over barriers and through the water pit. Sayid finished in 6th place and recorded an NJCAA qualifying time that currently ranks him 4th in the NJCAA. Kipchirchir wasn't far behind in 8th place and also punched his ticket to the NJCAA Championships in the event.
The track teams will compete again April 13th through April 15th at a series of meets in Los Angeles, California.
Complete Results of the three meets are listed below: