The New Mexico distance running team made a resounding start to their indoor season at the Sharon Danville-Colyear Season Opener on Saturday at Boston University, highlighted by Pamela Kosgei’s impressive performance which shattered a program record and placed her among the top five collegiate runners in 5,000 meters history.
Two weeks removed from her national runner-up finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, Kosgei clearly demonstrated she meant business as she broke the previous UNM indoor record— a mark set by Weini Kelati in 2019—by over 14 seconds. Kosgei’s time of 15:00.36 not only secured her third place overall in a competitive field, but it also likely assures her a spot in the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships set for March. With her remarkable performance, she fell just .37 seconds short of becoming only the fourth woman in NCAA history to break the elusive 15-minute barrier. The event saw Alabama’s Doris Lemngole and Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi take the top honors, finishing in 14:52.84, a time that placed them above Parker Valby’s former collegiate record of 14:52.79.
The afternoon was also a triumphant one for Kosgei’s teammates, with three Lobos achieving new Top 10 program entries as they celebrated numerous personal bests. Collins Kiprotich made his mark with the eighth-fastest indoor 3,000m time in UNM history at 7:56.26, and Vincent Chirchir finished with an impressive ninth-fastest 5,000m time of 13:48.73, marking a strong start for the program.
In her collegiate debut, Judy Rono also stood out, finishing third in her heat with a noteworthy time of 4:45.28, putting her within striking distance of making UNM’s all-time Top 10 list for the mile event. Following her impressive mile performance, Rono doubled down, participating in the 3,000m heat just four hours later, where she clocked a 9:30.09, showcasing her versatility and endurance.
In the men’s division, Luke Cunningham recorded a solid 4:02.85 in the mile, falling just short of a personal best, while teammate Dylan Burrows shaved nearly six seconds off his previous best, finishing in 4:03.73.
As the meet progressed, Kiprop’s performance in the men’s 3,000m set the stage for an exhilarating contest where UNC’s Ethan Strand broke the collegiate record. Kiprop finished with a strong 7:51.96 performance. Driven by the competitive spirit of their surroundings, Kiprotich’s 7:56.26 not only solidified his place in UNM’s all-time rankings but also placed him amongst the top runners nationally.
Other standout performances included Klara Dess, who registered a 15:57.33, and Natalie Bitetti, who finished with a collegiate best of 16:06.21 in the heat, among several Lobos who managed to improve on their personal records.
As a result of their impressive indoor season opener, both Kosgei and Kiprotich received recognition as they were named MW Women’s Track Athlete and Co-Freshman of the Week, respectively. This acknowledgment only served to highlight their exceptional talents on the track and further set the stage for what should be an exciting season ahead.
Upcoming Schedule and Future Competitions
Following their winter break, the Lobos are set to return to action at the Albuquerque Convention Center to host the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational on January 24-25. Fans can follow the action through live results and streaming links available on the 2024-25 Track & Field Schedule page and follow @UNMLoboXCTF on social media for more updates.
In a noteworthy appointment, Kosgei has emerged as a finalist for the 2025 Honda Sport Award for Cross Country. This prestigious accolade is awarded to the top female athlete in collegiate cross-country and recognizes her remarkable achievements and contributions to the sport throughout the season.
Having finished as the national runner-up at the NCAA Championships, Kosgei’s season was particularly impressive, where she dominated in individual 6K races and helped the Lobo Women’s Cross Country team finish strong in national rankings.
Her accolades this season were not limited to the cross-country circuit; she also garnered recognition as the Mountain West Athlete and Freshman of the Year, cementing her reputation as one of the premier athletes in the conference.
Lobo Women Fall to New Mexico State
In parallel to the track team’s success, the New Mexico Lobos women’s basketball team faced challenges on the court. After a tightly contested encounter, they suffered an 81-71 loss against New Mexico State, with the game featuring an exhilarating 13 lead changes and five tie scores.
Leading the offense for UNM was Viané Cumber, who recorded 18 points, complemented by key contributions from Destinee Hooks and Alyssa Hargrove, which placed them all in double figures for the match. The team sought to make a strong showing, especially with toughness on defense, evidenced by their 10 steals throughout the game.
The Lobos built and lost leads in a highly competitive game characterized by faltering moments in offense. They found success initially but allowed NMSU momentum to surge with a series of scoring runs that ultimately pronounced the visitors the victors.
The rematch on the following Sunday saw the Lobos face NMSU yet again, this time falling 68-60. In this contest, Hooks stood out once more, scoring 27 points and recording 10 rebounds. Additionally, Hulda Joaquim contributed a remarkable performance with 14 rebounds, marking a career-high for her.
Despite their resilience and leading by three points at one point in the fourth quarter, the Lobos faltered once again, dropping the game to NMSU as they finished strong in the final period.
UP NEXT, the Lobos will face Pepperdine, looking to improve upon their performances as they aim to climb the standings.
Lobos Football Coach Bronco Mendenhall Resigns
In a significant turn of events for the University of New Mexico, Head Football Coach Bronco Mendenhall has announced his resignation to accept a similar position at another institution. Vice President and Director of Athletics Fernando Lovo made the announcement, expressing disappointment over the decision. In his statement, Lovo revealed that he, along with President Stokes and the athletic administration, had been in discussions with Mendenhall for several weeks and had put forth an aggressive offer to further invest in the football program and coaching staff.
“Last night, Bronco informed me that he was stepping down,” Lovo stated. “I shared with him my disappointment. We want to thank him for his one year of service to the University of New Mexico.”
Lovo also indicated that the university had anticipated Mendenhall’s interest in other opportunities, thereby beginning preparations for the next steps in their football program. “Our focus will remain on the success of our student-athletes and their well-being,” he affirmed.
The search for a new head coach is already underway. Lovo expressed optimism about the future, noting significant interest from elite coaches in joining the Lobo Family. He highlighted that the football program, along with the athletics department and the university as a whole, is on a trajectory for growth. “With our additional investments, incredible fanbase, and strong overall athletics program, I am confident that we will have a tremendous pool of candidates,” he concluded, thanking Lobo Nation for their continued support during this transition.
Lobo Men Fall in Overtime Thriller Against New Mexico State
Meanwhile, the New Mexico men’s basketball team faced a challenging defeat in their latest game, falling 89-83 to New Mexico State after an intense overtime battle at The Pit. Despite rallying from a 15-point deficit in the second half to force overtime, the Lobos (7-3) struggled to secure the win as the Aggies (4-5) utilized a decisive 10-0 run in the extra period.
Key contributions came from Nelly Junior Joseph, who recorded 16 points and tied a career-high with 17 rebounds, marking his fourth double-double of the season. Additionally, Donovan Dent added 15 points, while Braden Appelhans made a notable impact from the bench with 14 points, tying his career-best. Mustapha Amzil also chipped in with 10 points, contributing to a strong team effort.
Game Breakdown
The match began with the Lobos showcasing their strength by going on an early 8-0 run, leading 10-4 within the first five minutes. They quickly extended their lead to 25-15, prompting New Mexico State to call a timeout. However, the Aggies responded strongly, mounting a 16-2 run that allowed them to tie the game at 35-35 with just under five minutes left in the first half. New Mexico State went into the halftime break leading 47-38, taking advantage of a 12-0 run in the final moments, while Appelhans led the Lobos with 11 points in the first half.
In the second half, the Lobos faced continued challenges as the Aggies opened with four quick points, establishing a 13-point lead early on. New Mexico did manage to trim the deficit, thanks to an 8-0 run fueled by back-to-back three-pointers by Amzil and Kayde Dotson, narrowing the score to 63-58.
With time running down, the Lobos demonstrated their resilience. After the Aggies took a 73-70 lead, CJ Noland hit a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 70-70 with 1:50 left. The Lobos managed to keep the pressure on, but a key goaltending call during Appelhans’ last shot allowed New Mexico to force overtime with only 1.5 seconds remaining.
Unfortunately for the Lobos, the overtime period saw them struggle offensively. A 10-0 run from the Aggies put them ahead 83-75 with just two minutes remaining. New Mexico failed to recover, allowing New Mexico State to close out the game with an 88-83 win.
Lobo Notes and Quotes
A few notable observations from the game include:
- The defeat snapped the Lobos’ impressive 15-game win streak in December.
- New Mexico State secured both of their wins in the series over the past five years during overtime at The Pit.
- Dent continues to shine, accumulating 75 assists through the initial 10 games of the season, ranking fourth in Lobo history for that span.
- The Lobos’ shooting woes were evident, as they posted a season-low 35.7 percent from the floor.
- The game was also significant for attendance, marking the first sellout of the season with 15,411 fans in attendance.
Head Coach Richard Pitino acknowledged the challenges his team faced, stating, “Credit to New Mexico State. We built a big lead, up 14, and they came back and built a big lead, up 15. We just came up a little short. We fought in the second half to send it to overtime.” He emphasized the need for improvement across the board as the team prepares for upcoming challenges.
Looking Ahead
The Lobos are set to return to action on December 14 against Western New Mexico, with the tip-off now scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Tickets for the game are available at GoLobos.com/tickets. As the football program searches for a new leader and the basketball team seeks to regain momentum, Lobo Nation remains steadfast in its support.
Football and Mountain West Developments
In matters concerning the football program, the Lobos recently learned of new changes within the Mountain West. The conference announced its schedule for the upcoming season, which will see UNM travel to both Boise State and UNLV, expanding existing rivalries and competitions. After a season of being confined to a seven-game conference schedule, teams will return to a full slate of eight games.
The Lobos will capitalize on home games against familiar opponents that they had faced in past seasons, including victories over Colorado State and Utah State last season.
With the naming of the conference foes for the next season, UNM also became aware of the notable addition of the University of California, Davis to the Mountain West roster starting July 1, 2026, which aimed to enhance the competitive landscape and increase reach into urban markets and media coverage.
Chancellor Gary S. May from UC Davis expressed enthusiasm over joining the Mountain West, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase their academic strengths and align with institutions that share similar values.
With so much activity across multiple sports, Lobos fans have a lot to look forward to as they continue their journey in various competitive arenas. Each program is set to undergo further developments while striving to elevate itself in conference standings and national recognition.