Completed Event: Track and Field at Silver State Invitational & Combined Event on December 4, 2025 ,
Track & Field
at Silver State Invitational & Combined Event
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, January 23
Albuquerque, N.M.
Grand Canyon
at
UNM MLK Jr. Invitational
Grand Canyon makes statement at UNM MLK Jr. Invitational
1/24/2026 8:57:00 PM | Track and Field
Multiple school records fall as Lopes test themselves against premier competition
The Lopes headed to Albuquerque Friday for the two-day UNM MLK Jr. Invitational. Bringing a star-studded squad GCU finished with top times in multiple events including breaking multiple school records.
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"Overall, I thought we had a really good meet, at one of the best track and field meets this weekend in Albuquerque." Said Coach Flood.
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The Lopes were able to start Friday night off with a bang with Taliyah Booker, the senior transfer from Purdue, shattering a long-standing school record in the 400m finishing with a time of 53.29.
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The men's 200m group also had a strong showing, led by senior Miguel Rosario's win with a time of 20.74 finishing first in the event.
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This time is currently second in the NCAA as well as third best all time in the Mountain West.
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Senior Connor Kittleson had a strong showing as well in the 200m finishing third overall running in a time of 21.20.
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Over at the field events junior Quintin Dukes had a strong showing in pole vault coming off a great meet in Flagstaff last weekend. He finished with a height of 5.10 meters (16.73 feet).
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After a great Friday "the fireworks kept on coming" said Flood heading into day two of the meet.
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Senior Ben Stratman got the ball rolling on Saturday by destroying the school record in the 400m with a time of 46.28, which is currently tied for the 7th fastest time in the NCAA this year.
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In the same race freshman Ty Johnston broke his own freshman 400m school record with a time of 47.36.
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"Francisco Marques also had a great couple of races," said Flood. Marques, the junior from Portugal, finished in the 60m hurdles finals in 7.86 finishing 4th overall.
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"We were able to finish the meet in grand style with another school record shattering performance," said Flood.
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 In the 4x400m relay graduates Aaliyah Rifort-Delem and Alyssa Blockburger, along with sophomore Cassie Small and senior Taliyah Booker set a new GCU school record finishing with a time of 3:35.24.
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This time was also the fourth best in Mountain West history in the women's 4x400m relay.
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"The majority of our team will have this next weekend off, but we will take a small contingent back up to Flagstaff." Said Flood, looking forward to the Ron Mann Classic at NAU on January 30th.
Players Mentioned
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