BOSTON, Mass. / GUNNISON, Colo. - Colorado State University Pueblo Track & Field opened the 2025 indoor season with a statement-making split-squad weekend, highlighted by historic fireworks in Boston and a deep slate of strong performances at altitude in Gunnison.
Braybrook Shatters NCAA Division II Record in Boston
At the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, reigning 800m Indoor National Champion and DMR National Champion Helen Braybrook delivered one of the most electrifying performances in NCAA Division II history. Competing in the Elite Women's Mile Invitational against a completely Division I field featuring athletes from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC, Braybrook dominated the race and crossed the line in a stunning 4:30.03, breaking the NCAA Division II indoor mile record and winning the event outright.
After the race, Braybrook emphasized the belief and support behind her breakthrough performance.
"Helen said, Coach Morris has really believed in me from day one. All week he kept telling me I was ready to do something special today, and having that trust behind me made all the difference when the race got tough. I also couldn't have done this without my teammates—especially Ricky Diaz, who has been pacing me in workouts these last few weeks and pushing me to a whole new level. This record isn't just mine. It belongs to all of us."
DMR National Champion Jadyn Herron also opened her season in Boston, placing 42nd in the Women's 3000m with a time of 9:42.90, trailing only one Division II athlete in the entire field.
ThunderWolves Strong Across the Board at the Western Colorado Mountaineer Open
While Braybrook and Herron took on elite national competition in Boston, the rest of the ThunderWolves produced a deep and balanced opening weekend at the Western Colorado Mountaineer Open inside the 7,700-foot Gunnison Fieldhouse.
Throws Shine With Multiple Wins
CSU Pueblo opened the year by owning the throwing events:
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The men swept the podium in the weight throw, with Lukas Moran (1st, 16.83m), Xavier Freeman (2nd, 16.80m), and Felipe Castro (4th, 16.13m).
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All-American Febe Wessels won the women's shot put convincingly at 14.83m.
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Freeman (17.75m), freshman Ryan Lane (15.86m), and Moran (15.15m) went 2nd–3rd–4th in the men's shot put, with Lane and Moran opening in strong form.
Jumps & Combined Events Bring Early Momentum
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Freshman Nuru Diallo opened his Pack career with a 3rd-place finish in the men's long jump (6.64m), while Isaiah Guzman placed 5th (6.57m).
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Tanner Clark cleared 1.79m to take 5th in the men's high jump.
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Mary Scoggins won the women's pentathlon, scoring 3345 points, with teammate Kyla Ruzich finishing 4th (3045 points).
Distance Crew Impresses Early
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CSU Pueblo went 2–3–4 in the women's 5000m with
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In the women's 3000m, Olivia Drodz opened strong with an 11th-place finish in 11:06.06.
Sprints & Relays Deliver Power
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Janise Everett placed 3rd in the women's 60m final (7.70) and later won the 200m in 25.04.
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Leyah Martinez finished 2nd in the 60m hurdles (8.86).
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The men's 400m squad dominated, sweeping the top three with
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The men's 800m crew swept the podium, with
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The women's 4×400 relay (Everett, Martinez, Wilson, Porter) placed 3rd in 4:01.17.
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The men's 4×400 relay opened the season with a victory, as King, Diallo, Hadley, and McLeod won in 3:22.55, while the Pack "B" and "C" squads also placed in the top seven.
A Complete and Promising Opening Weekend
With a national record, a dominating relay victory, podium sweeps, event wins, and strong debuts from both veterans and newcomers, CSU Pueblo wasted no time establishing momentum for the 2025 indoor season.
The ThunderWolves now enter an important December training block before returning to competition next weekend, traveling to Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado on December 13 for their second meet of the indoor campaign.
