2017 New Mexico Collegiate ClassicFeb 3, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
Top 5 Events To Watch At New Mexico Collegiate Classic
Top 5 Events To Watch At New Mexico Collegiate Classic
This weekend's New Mexico Classic will be highlighted by performances from NCAA champions, Olympic Trials finalists and All Americans. Check out the top five events to watch live on FloTrack starting Friday at 4:00 p.m.
This weekend's New Mexico Collegiate Classic will be highlighted by performances from NCAA champions, Olympic Trials finalists and All-Americans. Check out the top five events to watch live on FloTrack starting Friday at 4:00 p.m.
WATCH THE NEW MEXICO COLLEGIATE CLASSIC LIVE ON FLOTRACK FEB. 3!
Men's 800m
Who: Emmanuel Korir, Michael Saruni
When: Saturday, 2:10 a.m. MT
Why: Korir will return after setting a then-world indoor record of 1:14.97 in the 600m at the New Mexico Cherry & Silver Invitational. Korir held the record until Cas Loxsom broke the mark at PSU National with a victory in 1:14.91 one week later. Although he is no longer a world record-holder, Korir's performance put the freshman on the map as one of the top middle distance runners in the NCAA. He finds himself in good company as his coach, 1988 Olympic 800m champion Paul Ereng owns the NCAA record in the indoor 800m. Prior to the 600m run, Korir blasted an 800m debut of 1:46.50, which currently ranks No. 1 in the NCAA. After a breakthrough series of races, how much faster can Korir go in his signature event?
Men's Mile
Who: Anthony Rotich, Jonah Koech, Cosmas Boit, Richard Jones, Antony Kosegei
When: Saturday, 11:50 a.m. MT
Why: Former UTEP standout and four-time NCAA champion Anthony Rotich is returning to the same track in which he won the 2014 NCAA indoor mile championship. Since graduating, Rotich notched 2016 season's bests of 7:52 in the 3K and 8:27 in the steeplechase, the same event in which he won three NCAA titles while in college. He will be joined by fellow Miners Jonah Koech, Cosmas Boit, and Antony Kosgei. Koech finished sixth in the indoor mile and ninth in semifinal of the outdoor 800m at the 2016 NCAA championships. Boit and Kosegei were key contributors to the UTEP cross country team last fall.
Former LSU All American and now Altis middle distance standout Richard Jones will be contending after a season which included 1:47 800m season's best. While at LSU, Richards notched a personal best of 1:45 in the 800m.
Men's 200m
Who: Just'N Thymes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Michael Norman
When: Friday, 6:05 p.m. MT
Why: The men's 200m will feature a showdown between freshman phenom Michael Norman, USC All American Just'N Thymes, and LSU All American Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake. Norman will be making his much anticipated collegiate debut for USC by competing in the 200m and 4x400m relay. Last summer, Norman placed fifth in the 200m at the U.S. Olympic Trials and won the 200m and 4x100m relay at the World Junior Championships. His 200m personal best of 20.14 ranks No. 3 on the high school all-time list.
His veteran teammate Thymes is returning after an injury-riddled 2016 season. But in 2015, Thymes contributed to USC's 4x100m relay which placed fourth at the NCAA championships. Mitchell-Blake is returning from an unfortunate injury at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Prior to his injury, Mitchell-Blake contributed to LSU's NCAA-winning 4x100m relay. He also claimed SEC outdoor titles in the 100m and 200m, highlighted by a wind-legal 19.95 200m performance which placed him No. 7 in collegiate history.
Women's Mile
Who: Winny Koech, Chloe Anderson, Linda Cheruiyot
When: Saturday, 12:10 p.m. MT
Why: Koech is returning from a breakthrough cross country season in which she earned a runner-up finish in the NCAA mountain region, a CUSA championship title, and a third-place finish at Pre-Nationals. Koech recently recorded an indoor 5K personal best of 16:34 at the Vanderbilt Commodore Invitational. Based on her fall performances, Koech is poised for faster marks in all distances.
Women's 200m
Who: Jaide Stepter, Ashton Purvis
When: Friday, 6:40 p.m. MT
Why: Jaide Stepter graduated from USC as a Pac-12 champion and All American in the 400m hurdles. She also contributed to the Trojans' All American 4x100m relay at the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. Stepter ended her 2016 by finishing seventh in the 400m hurdles at the Olympic Trials where she set a personal best of 54.95 in her signature event.
Stepter will be challenged by former Texas A&M standout Ashton Purvis. While at Texas A&M, Purvis helped the Aggies earn NCAA titles in the 4x100m relay during the 2013 and 2014 championships. In 2009, she earned bronze medals in the 100m and 200m at the World Youth Championships.
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WATCH THE NEW MEXICO COLLEGIATE CLASSIC LIVE ON FLOTRACK FEB. 3!
Men's 800m
Who: Emmanuel Korir, Michael Saruni
When: Saturday, 2:10 a.m. MT
Why: Korir will return after setting a then-world indoor record of 1:14.97 in the 600m at the New Mexico Cherry & Silver Invitational. Korir held the record until Cas Loxsom broke the mark at PSU National with a victory in 1:14.91 one week later. Although he is no longer a world record-holder, Korir's performance put the freshman on the map as one of the top middle distance runners in the NCAA. He finds himself in good company as his coach, 1988 Olympic 800m champion Paul Ereng owns the NCAA record in the indoor 800m. Prior to the 600m run, Korir blasted an 800m debut of 1:46.50, which currently ranks No. 1 in the NCAA. After a breakthrough series of races, how much faster can Korir go in his signature event?
Emmanuel does it again!! New All-time NCAA record in the 600m!! 1:14.97 a new All-time World Best!! #MinerStrong pic.twitter.com/kqhntjdPwk
— UTEP Track & Field (@UTEPTrack) January 21, 2017
Men's Mile
Who: Anthony Rotich, Jonah Koech, Cosmas Boit, Richard Jones, Antony Kosegei
When: Saturday, 11:50 a.m. MT
Why: Former UTEP standout and four-time NCAA champion Anthony Rotich is returning to the same track in which he won the 2014 NCAA indoor mile championship. Since graduating, Rotich notched 2016 season's bests of 7:52 in the 3K and 8:27 in the steeplechase, the same event in which he won three NCAA titles while in college. He will be joined by fellow Miners Jonah Koech, Cosmas Boit, and Antony Kosgei. Koech finished sixth in the indoor mile and ninth in semifinal of the outdoor 800m at the 2016 NCAA championships. Boit and Kosegei were key contributors to the UTEP cross country team last fall.
Former LSU All American and now Altis middle distance standout Richard Jones will be contending after a season which included 1:47 800m season's best. While at LSU, Richards notched a personal best of 1:45 in the 800m.
Men's 200m
Who: Just'N Thymes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Michael Norman
When: Friday, 6:05 p.m. MT
Why: The men's 200m will feature a showdown between freshman phenom Michael Norman, USC All American Just'N Thymes, and LSU All American Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake. Norman will be making his much anticipated collegiate debut for USC by competing in the 200m and 4x400m relay. Last summer, Norman placed fifth in the 200m at the U.S. Olympic Trials and won the 200m and 4x100m relay at the World Junior Championships. His 200m personal best of 20.14 ranks No. 3 on the high school all-time list.
His veteran teammate Thymes is returning after an injury-riddled 2016 season. But in 2015, Thymes contributed to USC's 4x100m relay which placed fourth at the NCAA championships. Mitchell-Blake is returning from an unfortunate injury at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Prior to his injury, Mitchell-Blake contributed to LSU's NCAA-winning 4x100m relay. He also claimed SEC outdoor titles in the 100m and 200m, highlighted by a wind-legal 19.95 200m performance which placed him No. 7 in collegiate history. Women's Mile
Who: Winny Koech, Chloe Anderson, Linda Cheruiyot
When: Saturday, 12:10 p.m. MT
Why: Koech is returning from a breakthrough cross country season in which she earned a runner-up finish in the NCAA mountain region, a CUSA championship title, and a third-place finish at Pre-Nationals. Koech recently recorded an indoor 5K personal best of 16:34 at the Vanderbilt Commodore Invitational. Based on her fall performances, Koech is poised for faster marks in all distances.
Women's 200m
Who: Jaide Stepter, Ashton Purvis
When: Friday, 6:40 p.m. MT
Why: Jaide Stepter graduated from USC as a Pac-12 champion and All American in the 400m hurdles. She also contributed to the Trojans' All American 4x100m relay at the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. Stepter ended her 2016 by finishing seventh in the 400m hurdles at the Olympic Trials where she set a personal best of 54.95 in her signature event.
Stepter will be challenged by former Texas A&M standout Ashton Purvis. While at Texas A&M, Purvis helped the Aggies earn NCAA titles in the 4x100m relay during the 2013 and 2014 championships. In 2009, she earned bronze medals in the 100m and 200m at the World Youth Championships.How To Watch
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