Grand Canyon makes statement at Dr. MLK Jr. Invitational

Friday, January 23

Albuquerque, N.M.

Grand Canyon

UNM MLK Jr. Invitational

Results

1/24/2026 8:57:00 PM | Track and Field

Multiple Lopes records fall in tests against premier competition

By: Tyler Killgore

Grand Canyon headed to Albuquerque on Friday for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational. Bringing a star-studded squad, GCU finished with top times in multiple events and school records.

"Overall, I thought we had a really good meet at one of the best track and field meets this weekend in Albuquerque," GCU head coach Tom Flood.

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 400-meter race, finishing with a time of 53.29 seconds.

The men's 200 group also had a strong showing, led by senior Miguel Rosario's win with a time of 20.74 to win the event.

This time is second in the NCAA as well as third best all-time in the Mountain West.

GCU senior Connor Kittleson had a strong showing as well in the 200, finishing third in a time of 21.20.

Over at the field events, Lopes 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).

After a great Friday, "the fireworks kept on coming," Flood heading into Day 2 of the meet.

GCU senior Ben Stratman got the ball rolling on Saturday by destroying the school record in the 400 with a time of 46.28, which is tied for the seventh-fastest time in the NCAA this season.

In the same race, Lopes freshman Ty Johnston broke his own freshman 400 school record with a time of 47.36.

"Francisco Marques also had a great couple of races," Flood said.

Marques, the junior from Portugal, finished in the 60 hurdles finals in 7.86 to take fourth.

"We were able to finish the meet in grand style with another school record-shattering performance," Flood said.

In the 4x400 relay, graduates Aaliyah Rifort-Delem and Alyssa Blockburger, along with sophomore Cassie Small and Booker set a GCU record of 3:35.24.

This time was also the fourth best in Mountain West history in the women's 4x400 relay.

"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 Northern Arizona on Jan. 30.