Completed Event: Track and Field at UNM Don Kirby Elite on February 13, 2026 ,
Track & Field
at UNM Don Kirby Elite
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Jayden Todd
3 GCU records fall at last regular-season meet
5/3/2026 11:08:00 AM | Track and Field
Brooks sets Lopes' 400 mark in Tucson in lead-up to MW Championships
TUCSON, Ariz. – Grand Canyon turned in a strong performance Saturday at the Desert Heat Classic, highlighted by personal bests and nationally ranked marks across multiple event groups in the team's final reguar-season meet.
On the track, GCU senior Miguel Rosario led the sprint group with a time of 10.32 seconds in the 100-meter sprint, while junior teammate Dylan Poteat and freshman AJ Robinson posted near-identical times of 21.67 and 21.69, respectively, in the 200.
In the 400, Lopes senior Ben Stratman delivered one of the top performances of the day with a season-best 46.29 to finish in the top 10.
Graduate Taliyah Booker added a standout effort on the women's side with a GCU record of 52.77 in the 400.
The Lopes also turned in a strong showing in the relays, with the women's 4x100 team placing second with a season-best 43.90 ranking among the top times in Division I this season. Senior Hannah Smith, sophomore Nina Thevenin, sophomore Cassie Small, and Booker set a GCU record, breaking their previous record from this season.
The men's 4x100 relay consisting of senior Jacob Holguin, senior Conner Kittleson, graduate Justin Raines and Rosario added a 39.95 performance, finishing sixth in the race against top competition.
The Lopes were especially strong in the middle-distance events. Senior Germain Lemaitre clocked a personal-best of 1 minute, 47.17 seconds in the 800 while also breaking the GCU record once again this season.
Graduate Jagger Zlotoff ran 3:48.93 in the 1,500, finishing second in the event while sophomore Grace Scott added a personal-best 4:44.97 in the women's 1,500.
Freshman Isabella Velazquez posted a personal-best 10:53.41 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
In the field events, Grand Canyon saw strong marks across the board. Sophomore Blake Heller recorded a long jump of 7.48 meters (24 feet 6 12 inches) while senior Jacob Nash led the javelin group with a throw of 58.75 meters (192 feet 9 inches).
Lopes freshman Ryan Willey posted a notable hammer throw of 49.85 meters (163 feet 6 inches), and freshman Juliana Garcia added solid performances in the discus and hammer. In the vertical events, junior Eva Lowder cleared 4.16 meters (13 feet 7 3/4 inches) in the pole vault.
With this meet wrapping up the season, GCU looks ahead to the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Fresno, California, where the Lopes look to defend their running streak of conference titles on May 14-16.
On the track, GCU senior Miguel Rosario led the sprint group with a time of 10.32 seconds in the 100-meter sprint, while junior teammate Dylan Poteat and freshman AJ Robinson posted near-identical times of 21.67 and 21.69, respectively, in the 200.
In the 400, Lopes senior Ben Stratman delivered one of the top performances of the day with a season-best 46.29 to finish in the top 10.
Graduate Taliyah Booker added a standout effort on the women's side with a GCU record of 52.77 in the 400.
The Lopes also turned in a strong showing in the relays, with the women's 4x100 team placing second with a season-best 43.90 ranking among the top times in Division I this season. Senior Hannah Smith, sophomore Nina Thevenin, sophomore Cassie Small, and Booker set a GCU record, breaking their previous record from this season.
The men's 4x100 relay consisting of senior Jacob Holguin, senior Conner Kittleson, graduate Justin Raines and Rosario added a 39.95 performance, finishing sixth in the race against top competition.
The Lopes were especially strong in the middle-distance events. Senior Germain Lemaitre clocked a personal-best of 1 minute, 47.17 seconds in the 800 while also breaking the GCU record once again this season.
Graduate Jagger Zlotoff ran 3:48.93 in the 1,500, finishing second in the event while sophomore Grace Scott added a personal-best 4:44.97 in the women's 1,500.
Freshman Isabella Velazquez posted a personal-best 10:53.41 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
In the field events, Grand Canyon saw strong marks across the board. Sophomore Blake Heller recorded a long jump of 7.48 meters (24 feet 6 12 inches) while senior Jacob Nash led the javelin group with a throw of 58.75 meters (192 feet 9 inches).
Lopes freshman Ryan Willey posted a notable hammer throw of 49.85 meters (163 feet 6 inches), and freshman Juliana Garcia added solid performances in the discus and hammer. In the vertical events, junior Eva Lowder cleared 4.16 meters (13 feet 7 3/4 inches) in the pole vault.
With this meet wrapping up the season, GCU looks ahead to the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Fresno, California, where the Lopes look to defend their running streak of conference titles on May 14-16.
Players Mentioned
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