Albuquerque return sees records, conference bests

Saturday, January 29

Albuquerque, N.M.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

New Mexico Team Open

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

1/30/2022 10:27:00 AM | Track and Field

Hokanson takes down school mark; more Lopes turn in WAC-leading times

The Grand Canyon track and field team made its return to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the second consecutive weekend, competing in the New Mexico Team Open and turning in another impressive performance.

"We had another great day at the 'oval office' again in Albuquerque," GCU head coach Tom Flood said.

Fifth-year senior Alexa Hokanson got the meet rolling for the Lopes by breaking a school record in the 600-meter run. Her time of 1 minute, 31.94 seconds was .17 seconds faster than the old school record set by junior Kelly Moodry in the season-opening meet of this season.

On the distance side, GCU senior Landon Rast neared a school-record time.

"Landon turned in another fine performance in the mile," Flood said. "While his altitude-adjusted timed of 4:09.54 can't officially be considered our school record (actual time was 4:15.09), it is the first sub 4:10 in GCU history and is the leading time in the WAC."

After Hokanson broke her school record earlier Saturday, Moodry responded by posting a conference-leading time.

"Kelly continues to have a fantastic season and ran a personal best and WAC-leading time of 55.13 in the 400 meters," Flood said.

Lopes freshman Atena Rayson — a WAC Athlete of the Week earlier this season — posted a conference-leading mark in her first collegiate attempt at the 200-meter indoor run. Her time of 24.30 seconds is a WAC best.

Rayson had company in 200-meter success, with fifth-year senior David Kolar getting it done on the men's side.

"I thought that David also ran a very fast time of 21.40 in the 200 meters, which is the second-fastest time in the WAC," Flood said.

Flood was also impressed with some field performances and relays.

"It was also nice to see (sophomore) Eric Cabais-Fernandez go over 5 meters in the pole vault with a mark of 5.03 meters," Flood said. "I thought our 400-meter men turned in some very solid times in both the open 400 and the 4-by-400-meter relay. (Freshman) Taryn Burkett continues to improve every week in the triple jump and today went 12.46 meters."

The indoor season is already nearing its conclusion. With the WAC Indoor Championships looming in mid-February, the Lopes wrap up the regular-season portion of their schedule next weekend.

"Next week, in our final meet before our conference championships, we will again look for some more outstanding performances in both Pullman, Washington, and at Northern Arizona," Flood said.