Men's TF Qualify Four in Season Opener

Sunday, January 22, 2023 - 10:00 am | Dylan Kessler

Tucson, AZ - The Mesa Thunderbirds men's track & field team opened their 2023 season at the Pima Indoor Invitational on Saturday.

Yotuel Garcia, in his first race since winning the individual title at Cross Country Nationals, broke the indoor school record for 5000m with a time of 14:51.45 and qualified for indoor nationals. Garcia inched past the previous record of 14:51.50 held by Don Janicki since 1980.

Donovan Castillo ran a blistering time in the 600m with a 1:18.95 performance. Joshua Boehm was also able to hit a qualifying mark as he ran a 1:21.70 personal best.

Returning All-American Bryant Palmer qualified in the pole vault with a 4.60m personal best.

Alex Hernandez had the top mark in the weight throw as he threw a 13.92m personal best. The 4x400m relay ran 3:19.77 and finished in first place.

Garcia (4:25.29), Hayden Gelder (4:28.55), and Greyson Akers (4:39.73) went 1-2-3 in the mile. Gelder (2:34.64), Samuel Green (2:35.15), and Ernest Green (2:35.68) went 1-3-4 in the 1000m.

Miles Fears ran a personal best in the 60m hurdles (8.30) and finished in second place. Other third-place finishes included Javier Garcia in the 5000m (15:28.17), Ousman Jagne in the 400m (49.47), and Jeremiah Reed in the long jump (6.85m).

Up next for the T-Birds, they will compete in the Puma Indoor, hosted by Paradise Valley CC.

CLICK HERE to view the complete results.