Completed Event: Track and Field at Silver State Invitational & Combined Event on December 4, 2025 ,
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Grand Canyon wraps up Don Kirby Elite Invitational
2/15/2026 1:36:00 PM | Track and Field
GCU records fall as Lopes inch closer to Mountain West Outdoor Championships
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Grand Canyon wrapped up a strong weekend of competition at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, highlighted by school records and personal bests as the Lopes prepare for the Mountain West Championships.
"Again, the fireworks of performances started early on Friday, and the finale on Saturday was spectacular," GCU head coach Tom Flood said.
The weekend began with a historic performance from graduate Taliyah Booker, the Lopes runner who opened the meet by breaking her program record in the 400 meters, clocking a time of 53.02 seconds.
"With only two weeks out from conference, we tried to limit most athletes to one event and keep them healthy," Flood said. "Despite our best efforts to limit many performances, I felt that Nina Thevenin, Jagger Zlotoff and Alyssa Blockburger had wonderful doubles this week."
Those three Lopes recorded top-10 GCU performances in their weekend events.
Thevenin, a sophomore, had a great performance in the 60- and 200-meter dashes with respective times of 7.32 and 23.59.
Zlotoff, a graduate transfer, posted altitude-adjusted times of 4 minutes, 5.12 seconds in the mile and 8:16.05 in the 3,000, with both ranking in the program's all-time top 10.
Blockburger, the graduate transfer from USC, finished the 400 in 55.52 and ran an altitude-adjusted 2:11.63 in the 800, giving her two top-10 marks as well.
GCU junior Eva Lowder had another outstanding performance in pole vault, clearing 14 feet, 5 inches on her final jump. The heights marks the fourth time she has broken her program record this season.
The Lopes will send a small group to Flagstaff next weekend for the NAU Tune Up as they sort out who will head to the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in Reno, Nevada.
"Again, the fireworks of performances started early on Friday, and the finale on Saturday was spectacular," GCU head coach Tom Flood said.
The weekend began with a historic performance from graduate Taliyah Booker, the Lopes runner who opened the meet by breaking her program record in the 400 meters, clocking a time of 53.02 seconds.
"With only two weeks out from conference, we tried to limit most athletes to one event and keep them healthy," Flood said. "Despite our best efforts to limit many performances, I felt that Nina Thevenin, Jagger Zlotoff and Alyssa Blockburger had wonderful doubles this week."
Those three Lopes recorded top-10 GCU performances in their weekend events.
Thevenin, a sophomore, had a great performance in the 60- and 200-meter dashes with respective times of 7.32 and 23.59.
Zlotoff, a graduate transfer, posted altitude-adjusted times of 4 minutes, 5.12 seconds in the mile and 8:16.05 in the 3,000, with both ranking in the program's all-time top 10.
Blockburger, the graduate transfer from USC, finished the 400 in 55.52 and ran an altitude-adjusted 2:11.63 in the 800, giving her two top-10 marks as well.
GCU junior Eva Lowder had another outstanding performance in pole vault, clearing 14 feet, 5 inches on her final jump. The heights marks the fourth time she has broken her program record this season.
The Lopes will send a small group to Flagstaff next weekend for the NAU Tune Up as they sort out who will head to the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in Reno, Nevada.
Players Mentioned
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