The Mountain West has a new queen of the track, and her name is Pamela Kosgei. The New Mexico freshman delivered a historic performance at the MW Indoor Championships, leading the Lobos to their first team title in a decade. Now, she’s been named the 2025 MW Women’s Indoor Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year, a prestigious honor voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Kosgei’s freshman campaign has been nothing short of legendary. She dominated the Mountain West Cross Country Championships last fall, earning both XC Freshman of the Year and Athlete of the Year honors. This indoor season, she took things to another level, becoming the first athlete in MW women’s indoor history to sweep the mile, 3,000-meter, and 5,000-meter races in a single championship meet. Her blistering times in the 3,000m (9:08.28) and 5,000m (15:53.72) shattered championship records, securing a staggering 30 points for the Lobos.
Kosgei’s dominance didn’t stop there. At the NCAA Indoor Championships, she proved she belongs among the nation’s best, earning two All-American finishes. She placed third in the 5,000m (15:07.57) to claim first-team honors and added a second-team All-American finish with a 12th-place effort in the 3,000m (9:04.42). The Kenyan sensation is just getting started, and with outdoor season on the horizon, the MW—and the nation—better be ready for more history in the making.
Lobos Extend Streak to Six With MW-Opening Shutout
The New Mexico Lobos men’s tennis team is on fire, and they just turned up the heat on Mountain West competition. UNM kicked off conference play with a statement 4-0 win over Nevada, extending their winning streak to six matches and improving to 10-5 on the season.
Leading the charge was Georgio Samaha, who fell behind early but flipped the script in dominant fashion, winning 11 of the last 12 games to clinch his match. The Lobos fought through adversity in doubles, with the No. 64-ranked duo of Aram Noroozian and Samaha suffering their first loss in over a month. But UNM’s depth proved crucial, as Aditya Balsakar and Avery Tallakson cruised to a 6-2 victory before Nicolas Recoura and Daniil Kakhniuk sealed the doubles point with a tight 7-5 win.
In singles, it was all Lobos. Tallakson extended his personal win streak to nine with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory, while Dario Ciobotaru followed suit with a 6-1, 6-3 win. Samaha delivered the finishing blow, rallying from a 5-2 deficit to win 6-1 in the final set, securing UNM’s shutout victory.
Next up, the Lobos take a nine-day break before heading to Air Force and Denver for a crucial road stretch.
Lobo Women’s Tennis Battles But Falls to San Jose State
Scoreboard aside, the Lobos gave first-place San Jose State all they could handle. UNM fell 4-0 on Sunday, but the final result doesn’t tell the full story. The Lobos were in the fight until the very end, pushing the Spartans in several key matchups.
San Jose State struck first, taking the doubles point with convincing wins. But in singles play, UNM showed its resilience. Maria Sodre was on the verge of forcing a tiebreak at No. 4, while Maud Vandeputte and Rebekkah Gaines clawed their way back into their matches after dropping the first set. Ultimately, the Spartans found the clinching points they needed, but the Lobos proved they won’t back down against the MW’s best.
UNM is back in action on Friday against Air Force, looking to bounce back and defend their home court.
Lobos Show Fight But Fall to Fresno State 4-1
UNM women’s tennis didn’t go down without a fight. The Lobos pushed Fresno State to the limit before ultimately falling 4-1 in Mountain West action at McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium.
The match looked lopsided early, as Fresno State took the doubles point and quickly built a 3-0 lead. But the Lobos weren’t going away quietly. Maria Sodre put UNM on the board with a dominant 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 5 singles, sparking a late surge. Maud Vandeputte won the first set at No. 1 and was locked in a battle to force a third, while Gaines was in a third-set thriller when Fresno State found the clinching point.
Despite the loss, Sodre’s win marked her 13th of the season, leading the team. The Lobos now prepare for a showdown with conference leader San Jose State, a team that narrowly edged Air Force in their last match. Expect another battle as UNM looks to pull off a statement upset.
Jake Harrington Honored with NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award
New Mexico men’s golf head coach Jake Harrington has earned a prestigious spot in NJCAA history, receiving the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award as one of the all-time winningest coaches over the association’s 90-year history. Among nearly 200 honorees, Harrington is one of just seven men’s golf coaches to be recognized, a testament to his dominance at the junior college level.
Harrington made his mark at South Mountain Community College in Arizona from 2007-2013, leading the Cougars to three NJCAA Division II National Championships in four years. His tenure saw 41 tournament victories, four region titles, and four conference championships, cementing SMCC as a powerhouse program. A two-time Dave Williams National Coach of the Year and six-time GCAA Western U.S. Coach of the Year, Harrington coached multiple All-Americans, Jack Nicklaus Award winners, and Academic All-Americans during his time at SMCC.
Following his time at SMCC, Harrington took the Little Rock program to new heights, making three straight NCAA regional appearances and securing conference championships in the Sun Belt and Ohio Valley. In just his first season at New Mexico, he was named Mountain West Coach of the Year and guided the Lobos to the NCAA Championship finals.
Harrington will be formally honored on June 17 in Charlotte, North Carolina, at a special luncheon celebrating his legacy.
Lobos Finish Eighth at PING/ASU Invitational
The New Mexico women’s golf team wrapped up its regular season with a solid eighth-place finish at the PING/ASU Invitational at Papago Golf Course. A strong final round saw the Lobos move up the leaderboard, finishing at 18-over overall.
Tournament host and ninth-ranked Arizona State dominated the field at 36-under, with No. 12 Northwestern and No. 21 Kansas rounding out the top three. Maria Garcia led the Lobos individually, tying for 27th at 2-over after a closing-round 73. Rebecca Galasso fired the team’s best round of the day, carding an even-par 72 to finish at 6-over. Maria Caparros Levin (3-over), Chelsea Truong (7-over), and Annie Saechueng (22-over) completed the lineup.
Next up, the Lobos will head to the Mountain West Championship from April 15-17 in Palm Springs, Calif., with eyes set on a strong postseason run.
Lobos Stumble in Weekend Finale, 7-1
New Mexico Baseball saw its nine-game home win streak snapped Sunday as Air Force salvaged the series finale with a 7-1 victory at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos (15-12, 6-3 MW) still secured the series win but struggled to generate offense in the finale.
Starter Dayne Pengelly (1-1) endured a tough outing, allowing five runs on six hits over three innings. Though the bullpen—led by Presley Monteforte’s career-high three scoreless frames—kept the Falcons in check, UNM’s offense couldn’t capitalize. The Lobos managed just four hits, with Khalil Walker collecting the only extra-base hit, a double. The lone UNM run came in the seventh on a bases-loaded double play.
Despite the setback, the Lobos remain atop the Mountain West standings and turn their focus to a rivalry showdown at New Mexico State on Tuesday before a critical conference series at Fresno State from April 4-6.
Lobos Secure Series Win with 12-7 Victory Over Air Force
A first-inning explosion propelled New Mexico to a 12-7 win over Air Force on Saturday, clinching the Mountain West series in dominant fashion. The Lobos (15-11, 6-2 MW) plated nine runs in the opening frame, riding the momentum to their ninth consecutive home win.
Will Asby (3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI) led the charge, launching a two-run homer and adding key RBIs. Ethan Ott and Karsen Waslefsky also went deep as part of a 10-hit offensive surge. On the mound, Ryan Castillo (5.0 IP, 6 ER) battled through five innings to pick up his fourth win, while Tommy White closed the door with two scoreless innings.
The Lobos capitalized on shaky Falcons pitching early, and though Air Force fought back with multiple two-run innings, UNM’s relentless offense kept them in control.
Lobos Open Series with 7-4 Victory, Extend Home Streak
New Mexico kicked off its weekend series with Air Force in style, securing a 7-4 win Friday to extend its home winning streak to eight games. The Lobos (13-11, 5-2 MW) rode another dominant start from Daxton Purser and clutch hitting from Akili Carris and Josh McAlister to keep their Mountain West momentum rolling.
McAlister (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) delivered the game’s biggest hit, a two-run bomb in the third inning, while Carris added three RBIs of his own. Purser (5.2 IP, 10 K) continued his stellar stretch, allowing just three earned runs and striking out 10. Ty Cunningham shut the door in the ninth for his sixth save of the season.
The Lobos remain undefeated in night games (5-0) and Friday Mountain West matchups (3-0), setting the tone for a strong weekend showing.
ON DECK:
The Lobos (15-12, 6-3 MW) head to New Mexico State for a rivalry clash Tuesday (6 p.m. MT, ESPN+), followed by a tough conference road test at preseason favorite Fresno State from April 4-6. Stay tuned for streaming details and follow @UNMLoboBaseball for live updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
Four Lobos Named CSC Academic All-District
Four standout Lobos were recognized for their excellence in the classroom as Linda Franco, Katy McCarter, Asiana Lee, and Sophia Corder were named to the CSC Academic All-District team by the Collegiate Sports Communicators.
These student-athletes played a key role in UNM’s most successful season since before the COVID shutdown, contributing to multiple All-Mountain West finishes, dual meet victories, and several top-10 all-time marks across various events.
To qualify for All-District honors, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, be at least a sophomore, and compete in at least five competitions. The four honorees from UNM boast GPAs ranging from 3.7 to an impressive 4.1, exemplifying their commitment to both academic and athletic excellence.
Kipkurui & Samuel Make History at THE TEN
New Mexico’s Ishmael Kipkurui and Habtom Samuel delivered record-shattering performances at Sound Running’s THE TEN, becoming the fastest collegiate 10,000m runners in history. Kipkurui and Samuel finished first and second in an elite field featuring Olympians and former NCAA champions.
Kipkurui blazed through the final lap in 55.82 seconds, crossing the finish line in 26:50.21—shattering the previous collegiate record of 26:52.72 set by Nico Young at last year’s event. Samuel followed closely with a 26:51.06, making him the second-fastest collegian ever. Together, they joined Young as the only NCAA athletes to break the 27-minute barrier in the 10,000m.
Despite Samuel racing in a HOKA jersey due to sponsorship requirements, his time still counts toward collegiate history, though THE TEN is not an NCAA-sanctioned event and will not impact Outdoor Championship qualification.
On the women’s side, Pamela Kosgei clocked 31:02.73 to finish ninth overall, setting a new UNM record and posting the second-fastest collegiate time ever. Her mark trails only Parker Valby’s NCAA record of 30:50.43 and surpasses the previous No. 2 collegiate time set by Lisa Knoll in 2010 (31:18.07).