ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Colorado State University Pueblo Track & Field wrapped up a productive showing at the two-day MLK Invitational, hosted by the University of New Mexico, as the ThunderWolves competed against a field loaded with Division I programs and elite unattached athletes in Albuquerque.
On the women's side, Helen Braybrook continued to lead the way for the Pack in the middle-distance events. Competing at the same venue where she previously broke the NCAA Division II record in the 600 meters, Braybrook placed fourth in the 600 at 1:31.41, finishing as the top Division II athlete in the event. She followed that with a third-place finish in the 800 meters in 2:08.35, once again the highest Division II finisher in the race. Charlotte Young followed closely behind her teammate in the 800, placing fourth overall at 2:08.63 as the second-highest Division II finisher, while also taking fifth in the 600 meters (1:33.61). Mary Scoggins added a solid effort in the 600 meters with an 11th-place finish in 1:38.85.
In the distance events, Jadyn Herron continued her strong early-season form. Herron finished eighth in the mile in 4:53.86 as the top Division II competitor in the field and later returned to place fourth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:10.82, again leading all Division II runners. Ella Egizio (5:19.01 mile, 10:34.35 3,000) and Lily Smithson (5:25.56 mile, 10:34.30 3,000) also competed well for the Pack in both races.
The ThunderWolves' women's 4x400-meter relay team of Janise Everett, Gabrielle Dunich, Leyah Martinez and Braybrook placed eighth overall in 3:52.48. Against a relay field stacked with Division I programs, CSU Pueblo finished as the top Division II squad in the event.
On the men's side, the Pack turned in several top Division II performances in highly competitive middle-distance races. Caleb McLeod recorded a second-place finish in the 800 meters at 1:50.92, making him the highest-finishing Division II athlete in the event. Tim Anstett placed fourth in the 600 meters in 1:18.69, also the top Division II finisher, and added a fifth-place showing in the 800 meters at 1:52.10. Sayer Vargues and Kanyon Cobbs added depth for CSU Pueblo in both events.
In the mile, Jon Sweepe paced the ThunderWolves with a fifth-place finish in 4:05.61, standing as the highest Division II finisher in the field. Kameron Eustace (4:19.82) and Caden Schweer (4:23.26) followed close behind. Sweepe doubled back in the 3,000 meters and placed third overall with a time of 8:19.59, once again leading all Division II competitors. Eustace (8:35.61), Schweer (8:36.69), McLeod (8:42.57) and Aaron Roberds (9:07.03) rounded out a strong group effort for the Pack.
In the throwing events, Xavier Freeman led the ThunderWolves with a fourth-place finish in the shot put at 16.70 meters, the top mark among Division II athletes. Ryan Lane followed with a throw of 15.71 meters and Felipe Castro added a best of 15.08 meters. Freeman also recorded a 10th-place finish in the weight throw with a mark of 16.19 meters, again finishing as the highest Division II competitor, while Castro (15.38m) and Lane (14.84m) provided additional depth.
The meet closed with the men's 4x400-meter relays, where the CSU Pueblo "B" team of Caden Howard, Demario Medina, Tim Anstett and Caleb McLeod ran to a third-place finish in their heat in 3:20.59, the fastest time posted by a Division II squad. The "A" relay team followed with a time of 3:23.06.
The ThunderWolves will build on the momentum from Albuquerque as they continue the indoor season, using the MLK Invitational as a key early benchmark against elite competition while establishing themselves as the top Division II performers across multiple events.
