GCU shines at New Mexico Collegiate Classic

Friday, February 6

Albuquerque, N.M.

Grand Canyon

New Mexico Collegiate Classic

2/8/2026 1:22:00 PM | Track and Field

Lopes set records, deliver breakout performances in Albuquerque

By: Tyler Killgore

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Grand Canyon sent a strong squad to the New Mexico Collegiate Classic this weekend, posting multiple school records and top conference marks in one of the nation's premier indoor meets.

The Lopes made the most of the opportunity against some of the best competition they have faced this season.

"I thought that overall we had a good weekend in Albuquerque at unarguably the best collegiate track and field meet so far this season," GCU head coach Tom Flood said. "The way the meet was structured, we had our best performances on Friday night."

The meet began with fireworks in the women's pole vault, where junior Eva Lowder and junior Tatum Moku cleared 4.29 meters (14 feet, 3/4 inch) to break GCU's indoor school record.

The mark ranks as the third-best performance in Mountain West history. It is also the second time this season that the pair has broken the school record.

Momentum carried onto the track in the women's 200 meters, where four Lopes finished under 24 seconds

Sophomore Cassie Small led the way in 23.73, followed closely by graduate Aaliyah Rifort-Delem (23.88), sophomore Nina Thevenin (23.93) and senior Taliyah Booker (23.93).

On the distance side, GCU posted two of the fastest performances in program history when adjusted for altitude.

Loes junior Tristen Coyle ran an altitude-adjusted mile of 4 minutes, 3.4 seconds, while graduate Michael Cunningham clocked an altitude-adjusted 800 time of 1:49.46. Both ranked second all-time in GCU history.

After helping break a school record just a couple weeks ago in the 4x400 relay, graduate Alyssa Blockburger set another GCU record, running the 600 in 1:31.36.

"It was also nice to see Noah Lawson finally put together a great 200-meter race this weekend," Flood said.

The senior ran an impressive 21.02 in the 200, breaking his Togo national record in the process.

"Most importantly, we came out of this meet fairly healthy and are positioning ourselves to make a lot of noise at the conference meet in three weeks." Flood said, "It will be a short turnaround as we will head back to Albuquerque again next weekend and look to get even better."

The Lopes head back to Albuquerque again this weekend to compete in the Don Kirby Elite Invitational at New Mexico.