Split weekend readies Lopes for Spokane

Friday, January 31

Flagstaff, Ariz. / Walkup Skydome

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Ron Mann Classic

2/1/2025 10:02:00 PM | Track and Field

Albuquerque Results Flagstaff Results

Burkett breaks triple jump record for 2nd straight weekend

By: Josh Hauser

Grand Canyon continued to show strong performances across multiple events as the Lopes split the track and field squad between the Ron Mann Classic in Flagstaff and the New Mexico Team Open in Albuquerque.

GCU's sprints, hurdles and mid-distance athletes went to Albuquerque, and its throwers and jumpers went to Flagstaff.

"After a tough and very successful two-day meet last weekend in Albuquerque, we ran through this weekend to prepare for Spokane next weekend and focused on some off events and didn't double any sprinters," GCU head coach Tom Flood said.

For the second straight weekend, Lopes senior Taryn Burkett — the reigning WAC Women's Field Athlete of the Week — broke her school record in the triple jump. It came by the smallest of margins, adding an extra centimeter to last week's 13-meter mark to check in at a WAC-leading 13.01.

GCU freshman Rayan Belkheir had an impressive double, running under 1 minute, 29 seconds (1:19.73) in the 600 meters before clocking an altitude-adjusted time of 4:11.41 in the mile.

"I also thought that all the 600-meter women had nice races, especially (senior) Alyssa Blockburger (1:32.49) and (senior) Maria Sartin (1:32.92)," Flood said. "I look forward to seeing what they all do next week in the 800 in Spokane.

"It was really nice to see (junior) Jacob Holguin run 6.74 in 60 meters and to watch (senior) Aaliyah Rifort-Delem make her season debut in the 400 (55.33, No. 2 in the WAC)."

Back in the Grand Canyon State, GCU sophomore Nicole Prall added to her WAC-leading pole vault mark by clearing at 4.05 meters. Senior teammate Lucy George's shot put mark of 13.78 meters also paces the conference.

GCU now shifts focus to Spokane, Washington, where it will compete on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Riverfront Invitational & Multis.

"We are looking forward to getting back on Spokane's track next week to compete at a very high level," Flood said.