Collegians Ready To Leave Their Mark At Altitude

Altitude awaits. Finally.

The Albuquerque Convention Center has waited three long years for another opportunity to host the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Already the site of one iteration of the climactic meet back in 2014, the Land of Enchantment welcomed the 2020 edition with open arms before the meet was canceled and the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Fast forward to 2023 and collegiate track & field athletes are champing at the bit to see what they can do in the thin air of New Mexico’s largest city. After all, two collegiate records were already set inside the Albuquerque Convention Center this year: Julien Alfred of Texas blistered 60 meters in 7.00 back in early February at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic (Alfred since lowered it to 6.97 later that month in Lubbock, Texas) and Jorinde van Klinken of Oregon launched the shot 19.57m (64-2½) one week later during an incredible series at the Don Kirby Collegiate Elite.

Yet, there have been a number of other great marks turned in over the years at meets that have been hosted above statistical altitude (1000 meters or 3280 feet), including another pair of current collegiate records: Leonard Myles-Mills in the 60 meters at 6.45 and Demi Payne of Stephen F. Austin in the pole vault at 4.75m (15-7).

Here are the best-known indoor marks by collegians at altitude.

The 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships begin tomorrow and run through Saturday. Be sure to check back throughout the weekend – and follow us on social media (Twitter & Instagram) – for updates from Albuquerque.