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Walker Sets UNM Record in 60-Meter HurdlesFeb 12, 2011 (Albuquerque Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- To get better, it always helps to hang with the best. Lobo sophomore De'Vron Walker used the robust competition to his advantage Friday night during UNM's Don Kirby Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Running in a 60-meter hurdles final that featured the country's top-ranked college hurdler, Walker sped to a school record of 7.94 seconds. "It's a small meet, but a power-packed meet. The schools here speak for themselves," Walker said of a field that included three men's programs ranked in the top 20 nationally: Stanford (seventh), Texas (13th) and Ohio State (16th). No team scores were kept. "In my event especially, to have those competitors pretty much motivated me to compete at my best potential," Walker added. This was the first indoor Don Kirby Invitational, and Lobo coach Joe Franklin has said his intention is to make it the elite small meet in the country. To make it a draw, Franklin limited the number of teams, invited some of the best programs and trimmed the schedule. The only individual races were those 800 meters and shorter. Walker finished fourth overall behind former Texas Tech All-American Omo Osaghae (now competing unattached) and Longhorns Keiron Stewart and Jake Wohlford. Stewart entered the meet ranked No. 1 nationally in the 60 hurdles. On a night of impressive performances -- several competitors earned automatic NCAA championship qualifying standards -- Walker's run earned one of the night's heartiest cheers from the hometown crowd. It was, after all, an audience that included several of his fraternity brothers. "Having that home advantage, that social support and love is an amazing feeling," said Walker, who acknowledged the help by giving his Omega Psi Phi frat brothers a post-race salute from the middle of the oval. "They're starting to become more supportive of track and field and admiring the beauty," he said. Walker wasn't the only one to establish a UNM school record Friday. Precious Selmon matched the feat in the women's 60 hurdles, lowering a mark she already owned. She broke the record during the preliminaries, clocking a time of 8.41. It was a return to form for Selmon, who said she'd been struggling recently with quadriceps pain. "Last week, I was still iffy, but today I said 'I feel 100 percent. I'm going to go all-out,'" Selmon said. The resurgence came at the right time. This was the Lobos' final meet before they host the Mountain West Conference Championships in two weeks. "I'm back to normal," Selmon said. The sophomore from St. Louis noted that the Don Kirby presented the Lobos with their stiffest challenge to date, adding that running with such high-caliber competition makes a difference. "A little more adrenaline," she said. "It's just more exciting." Selmon didn't get to enjoy it much in the finals, however. She clipped the first hurdle and fell behind, ultimately finishing sixth. "Maybe I'm saving the really good race for conference," she said. Among the Lobos' top performers Friday night were Gabe Aragon and Sam Evans, who finished 1-2 in the 800. Aragon crossed the finish line in 1:50.10. Up next Mountain West Championships Feb. 24-26 Albuquerque Convention Center To see more of the Albuquerque Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.abqjournal.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |