ALBUQUERQUE, NM- Concordia University Irvine track and field opened its indoor season with a trip to the University of New Mexico. Competing in one of the best meets in the nation, the field was stacked with athletes from the likes of both NCAA division one and two. A twenty-athlete mix of fresh faces and returning veterans got to reap the benefits of a long training season and get the first taste of competition. There are many highlights on both the men's and women's sides, but taking the cake are two school records and national provisional marks from Dylan Fox and Maria Sartin.
 
On the men's side, Dylan Fox started off the year flying past his own school record in the long jump. Fox earned the record for the first time during the 2023 indoor season which was his first season with the Golden Eagles. The junior made an appearance at NCAA DII Outdoor Nationals last May and has already surpassed the indoor provisional qualifying mark with today's performance. He will look to maintain a top-16 national ranking to earn a spot at the indoor championships this March in Pittsburg, Kansas. Fox also managed a PR in the 60m dash with a 7.01 second sprint through the line.
 
Adding to this were impressive performances on the men's side from freshman Trey Vergenz and graduate student Donovan Wilson who both earned new personal bests. Vergenz opened his collegiate career with a consistent shot put series highlighted by a massive 15.76m mark to take 5^th place. His mark today was a meter farther than his performance at the teams' intrasquad in early December. Donovan Wilson also ran a personal best in the 60m dash clocking a 7.07 second effort (.14 second PR).
 
Additionally, sophomore Freddy Matias Vasquez opened his indoor career with an 8^th place finish in the 600m, running a solid 1:22.88. Junior, Hunter Hornaday, also started off with a new indoor PR of 14.12m in the shot put. He is already sitting close to his lifetime PR of 14.25m.
 
The Golden Eagle women also came to impress. Senior, Maria Sartin immediately rewrote the record books as she lowered her own indoor 400m record from 57.11 to an impressive 56.73. Like her teammate, she also surpassed the indoor national provisional mark and will look to maintain her ranking until the beginning of March.
 
Graduate transfer Jasmyn Crawford flew out of the blocks to open her career as a Golden Eagle. Her 7.67 second 60m dash was within .06 seconds of the DII provisional mark (7.65), Concordia's school record (7.64), and her own personal best (7.61). She followed up that performance with a 24.99 second 200m. She was the fastest Golden Eagle in both events.
Freshmen Jasmyn Rios (SP, WT) and Giovana Pelascini (LJ, 60mH, 200m), and sophomores Riley Norris (60mH, 800m, LJ) and Nataleah Yanez (60m, 200m) all jumped right into their indoor careers all competing in two or more events.
 
Along with the multitude of athletes who began their indoor track careers, Coach John Brunk also completed his first official track meet as part of the Golden Eagle staff, and his first indoor track meet ever as a coach. He shared his thoughts on the day; "I am proud of those who competed today, they showed poise and great efforts across the board. The support from back home was next level, we absolutely felt the love here in Albuquerque."
 
The Golden Eagles will take a weekend off before heading to Spokane, Wash for the Riverfront Multis and Invitational on February 1-3.
 
For the MLK Invite meet results CLICK HERE
For the entire schedule CLICK HERE