Mpigachai Sets School Record, Bears Impress in New Mexico, Boulder

Saturday, February 1

Albuquerque, N.M.

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

New Mexico Team Open

2/1/2025 10:19:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, Track & Field, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – The Northern Colorado track and field team showed out on the final day of the New Mexico Team Open and the CU Invitational, recording multiple top-10 finishes and a broken school record.

NEW MEXICO TEAM OPEN
Senior Regina Mpigachai took first place in the 800m with a Big Sky Conference-leading time of 2:06.39, outrunning competitors from Arizona State, New Mexico, and Big Sky rival Weber State.

Regina's victory was particularly impressive as she broke the school record, surpassing the previous mark of 2:06.50 set by Cammy Sargent in 2019. With this achievement, Mpigachai now holds all UNC distance records, both indoor and outdoor, except for the steeplechase.

"Regina secured a decisive victory today," said Director of Track & Field Wayne Angel. "Overall, we accomplished what we came here to do. We are moving in the right direction."

Junior Jerome Campbell advanced to the 60m hurdles finals after finishing first in the prelims with a time of 7.63. While he finished fifth in the finals with a time of 7.78, Coach Angel noted, "Jerome had a great prelim and was clearly the class of the field in today's final but was impeded in his race which disrupted his rhythm. As we all know, the hurdles are unforgiving. I am confident that Jerome will excel in Chicago in a couple of weeks."

Junior Moise Bennett ran the 60m hurdles in 8.29, finishing 15th in the prelims. He then competed in the 60m dash, posting a time of 7.19 to finish 23rd.

"I am extremely satisfied with our team's performances over the past two days," said the coach. "As we effectively held our own against power four schools and sent a strong message to the Big Sky that we will be well-prepared by championship time. I am also very encouraged by the performances from our 400m group, as they demonstrated the potential to be a force to be reckoned with in four weeks at the Big Sky Championships."

CU INVITATIONAL
On the distance side, the Bears recorded five personal bests and six season bests.

Senior Nathan Plant finished ninth in the 800m with a time of 1:54.00, moving up from ninth to fifth on the UNC Top 10 All-Time list. Senior Isaac Rascon also climbed the All-Time list, running a personal-best 8:35.90 in the 3000m to move from sixth to fifth.

"The Bears had another exceptional meet! Across the distance group, there were five lifetime bests and six season bests," said Assistant Coach Stormie Sickler. "They showed up and demonstrated just how hard they've been working in practice every day."

"I am incredibly proud of how tough and gritty the athletes were today. We're at a strong point in our training, and I'm excited to see how they continue to improve as we push forward and sharpen in practice."

Senior Wendira Moss had a standout day, finishing 10th in the 60m (7.87), fifth in the 200m (24.85), and eighth in the 400m (56.88).

In the field events, sophomore Augden Tacha placed 10th in the high jump with a mark of 1.46m, while fellow sophomore Samantha Kullish secured fourth in the pole vault, clearing 3.35m.

All three Bears in the women's long jump finished in the top 10, led by junior Kiana Van Haaren, who claimed first with a leap of 5.76m. Freshman Jaelynn Lane placed fifth (5.08m), while sophomore Sherika Thomas finished eighth (4.65m).

Lane also secured second in the triple jump with a mark of 11.23m, followed closely by freshman Savanna Amack, who finished third with 10.51m.

On the men's side, sophomore Ryan Pollyea won the long jump with a jump of 6.60m and placed fifth in the high jump, clearing 1.81m. Junior Jameson Rembert took sixth in the long jump (5.50m) and eighth in the high jump (1.76m), while sophomore Digby Marshall finished third in the long jump with a mark of 6.32m.

"In preparation for the upcoming Big Sky Indoor Championships in three weeks, the Bears delivered strong performances across the board, with multiple top-10 finishes and personal bests," said Assistant Coach Eugene Frazier. "The team is trusting the process and moving in the right direction, positioning themselves to be primed and ready for the championship."

RESULTS
New Mexico Team Open – Albuquerque, N.M.
MEN
60m Unseeded
23. Moise Bennett – 7.21

60m Hurdles Prelims
1. Jerome Campbell – 7.65
15. Moise Bennett – 8.31

60m Hurdles Finals
5. Jerome Campbell – 7.80

200m Unseeded
7. Zander Cruzan – 21.32
16. Donovan Castillo – 21.87

400m B Sections
2. Zander Cruzan – 46.99
5. Donovan Castillo – 47.53
17. Edgar Garcia – 49.01

WOMEN
800m
1. Regina Mpigachai – 2:06.39

RESULTS
CU Invitational – Boulder, Colo.
MEN
60m Prelims
20. Griffin Eastman – 7.22
23. Kyran Jones – 7.24
25. Jaymison Whicmann – 7.25
32. Jaydon Sundbye – 7.32
35. Max Struefert – 7.38
42. Alante Monroe-Elazier – 7.67

200m
24. Jaymison Whichmann - 22.74
25. Nick Ellis - 22.86
27. Maxwell Struefert - 22.91
29. Kyran Jones - 23.03
31. Lincoln Reynolds - 23.06
41. Gavin Vinton - 23.64
42. Griffin Eastman - 23.71
50. Alante Monroe-Elazier - 24.54

400m
27. Nick Ellis - 51.33
28. Lincoln Reynolds - 51.68
32. Ryan Pollyea - 52.44
34. Kamryn Golub - 52.79
42. Gavin Vinton - 54.83

800m
9. Nathan Plant - 1:54.00
39. Ben Whitson - 2:04.88

1 Mile
42. Noah Osmond - 4:31.43
43. Ben Whitson - 4:32.18

3000m
31. Isaac Rascon - 8:35.90
60. Colton Magnuson - 8:58.48
72. Noah Osmond - 9:12.56
74. Dylan Steele - 9:13.28
83. Kamryn Golub - 9:31.97

60m Hurdle
25. Jaydon Sunbye - 8.99
26. Ryan Pollyea - 9.09
29. Jameson Rembert - 9.65

Men 4x400
14. Pollyea, Jones, Whichman, Rembert - 3:32.10

High Jump
5. Ryan Pollyea – 1.81m
8. Jameson Rembert – 1.76m

Long Jump
1. Ryan Pollyea – 6.60m
3. Digby Marshall – 6.32m
6. Jameson Rembert – 5.50m

Shot Put
9. Jameson Rembert – 11.97m
13. Ryan Pollyea – 10.57m

WOMEN
60m
10. Wendira Moss - 7.87
14. Marely Del Campo - 7.95
21. Craiesha Johnson - 8.02
24. Alison Hoodak - 8.06
32. Kayla Christiansen - 8.30
40. Annison Pound - 8.58

200m
5. Wendira Moss - 24.85
18. Marelyn Del Campo - 25.91
30. Alison Hoodak - 26.84
35. Sherika Thomas - 27.13
37. Kayla Christiansen - 27.20
43. Kara Sidwell - 27.61

400m
8. Wendira Moss - 56.88

800m
14. Shantell Hafner - 2:17.80
24. Natasha Perales - 2:23.08
27. Jessica Wilson - 2:25.08

1 Mile
23. Summer Olson - 5:08.36
45. Claire Nowels - 5:23.86
52. Ania Magdesian - 5:27.42

3000m
22. Summer Olson - 10:11.30
34. Shantell Hafner - 10:26.82
41. Julia Thigpen - 10:33.55
48. Claire Nowels - 10:45.42

60m Hurdle
14. Sherika Thomas - 9.43
18. Craiesha Johnson - 9.56
19. Kara Sidwell - 9.64
24. Annison Pound - 9.78

4x400m Relay
4. Moss, Thomas, Johnson, Hoodak - 3:57.58
9. Hafner, Perales, Wilson, Magdesian - 4:13.12

High Jump
10. Augden Tacha – 1.46m

Pole Vault
4. Samantha Kullish

Long Jump
1. Kiana Van Haaren – 5.76m
5. Jaelynn Lane – 5.08m
8. Sherika Thomas – 4.65m

Triple Jump
2. Jaelynn Lane – 11.23m
3. Savanna Amack – 10.51m

UP NEXT
The Bears will take a two week break before traveling to the Wisconsin Windy City Invite, hosted by Wisconsin. The two-day meet will take place Feb. 14-15 in Madison, Wis.

For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the cross country and track and field teams on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsTFXC), and Instagram (@UNC_BearsXCTF).