Salas-Lozano Shatters Shot Put School Record

The T-Bird women's track & field team recorded nine new national qualifying standards, notched two improved qualifiers, and one school record at the New Mexico Open in Albuquerque, NM on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Thrower Esteisy Salas-Lozano shattered the school record in the shot put with an improved qualifying throw of 15.12m.​​ The Medellín, Colombia native broke Siyu Gu's previous school record of 14.63m set in 2019. Salas-Lozano's throw ranks No. 1 in the NJCAA by .47m.

Hurdler Maliah Edwards cleared her way to a national standard in the 60mH with a blazing time of 8.74. Edwards's finish is No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event. Kamaria Knight finished the 200m in 24.56 to nationally qualify in the race. Knight is ranked No. 7 in NJCAA for the event.  

Nandy Kihuyu was an improved qualifier in the 400m by 1.06 seconds to post a time of 55.61. Kihuyu's finish is ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA for the 400m.

Lisanne Schapendonk nationally qualified in two races over the weekend. The Cuijk, Netherlands native reached the standard in the mile with a time of 5:15.43.

Schapendonk was one of two T-Birds to exceed the national standard in the 600m at the New Mexico Open. Schapendonk recorded a time of 1:37.97. Ysanne Peart was the second Thunderbird to nationally qualify in the 600m with a time of 1:39.20. 

Freshman Jody Ann Mitchell finished the 800m with a national qualifying time of 2:17.12. Daphne Kausz also nationally qualified in the 800m on Saturday completing the race in 2:23.29. 

Distance runner Carolyne Kimaiyo finished the 3000m race in 11:00.21 to qualify for nationals in the event. Freshman jumper Kavel Ritchie sprung her way to a national mark in the long jump with a leap of 5.54m. 

The Thunderbirds next meet will be in College Station, Texas at the Charlie Thomas Invitational inside the Fasken Indoor on Friday, Feb. 2.