The UNLV track &. field team is returning to Albuquerque, New Mexico, this weekend for the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, a crucial final competition before the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championship in Reno on February 28th and 29th.
Twenty UNLV student-athletes will participate in the two-day meet, which begins Friday at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Rebels recently competed in Albuquerque at the New Mexico Team Open earlier this month.
Krishna Jayasankar will be a key competitor for UNLV, having been named Mountain West Women’s Field Athlete of the Week and UNLV Rebel of the Week on February 3rd. She achieved a personal best throw of 16.63 meters (54′ 6.75″) in the shot put at the New Mexico Team Open, a mark that currently ranks second in UNLV indoor program history, second in the Mountain West, and 24th nationally.
KayVeonna Jackson similarly aims to build on her strong performance, with a 60m time of 7.28 (altitude adjusted to 7.30) that currently leads the Mountain West and ranks fifth all-time in the UNLV program.
Additional UNLV athletes competing include Taryn Bailey (600m, 800m), Jayda Bushay (200m, 400m), Gabriella Caldwell (200m), Gabby Goodgames (60m, 60m Hurdles, Long Jump), Kaelin Gowdy (400m), Sadia Green (200m, 400m), Kayli Middleton (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Amaya Mitchell-Howard (Weight Throw), Claire Rands (600m, 800m), Reagan Reed (1 Mile, 3000m), Juliana Roberson (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Kaitlynn Webbe (400m), Lauryn Williams (Shot Put, Weight Throw), Aly Winston (60m, 200m), and Jaci Wright (60m Hurdles). The 4x400m relay team will also compete, closing out the meet on Saturday at 2:00 pm PT.
Currently, UNLV holds six top-eight positions in the Mountain West standings. Jaci Wright is third in the 60m hurdles (8.46/8.48 altitude adjusted), even as Amaya Mitchell-Howard is third in the weight throw (19.04m/62′ 5.75″). The Scarlet & Gray’s DMR team is fourth (12:38.92/12:29.16 altitude adjusted), and the 4x400m relay team is seventh (3:48.27/3:48.71 altitude adjusted).
Friday’s events begin with the long jump at 11:00 am PT, and Saturday’s competition starts at 8:30 am PT with the women’s shot put.
