PITTSBURG, Kan. – Allyssa Romero zipped to another school record in the women's 400 meters and Noel Lopez did the same in the men's 5,000 meters, as both ran provisional qualifying times for NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals in the process, to lead MSU Denver on Saturday.

Romero, running against a deep pool at the Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, Kan., finished sixth in 56.63 and lopped an amazing 1.32 seconds off her previous school-record best of 57.95 – set exactly one year earlier, on Feb. 11, 2022. Easily eclipsing her previous season best of 58.08, Romero came in well under the provisional standard of 57.03. Her time ranks 32^nd in Division II, and third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, this season.

Meanwhile, at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, Noel Lopez took down the 12-year-old school record of Brandon Johnson in the 5,000 meters by nearly six seconds, running 14:18.36. Lopez, who placed 96th while running against a field of hundreds in the premier meet for distance runners, easily surpassed the provisional qualifying time of 14:29.66 and improved upon his previous career best by 43 seconds. His time ranks 15th in the RMAC and 29th in Division II this season.

Also in Boston, JJ Ramey ran the fourth-fastest 5,000 in program history, finishing 12^th in his division in 14:38.39. Nick Nowlen ran the 800 in 1:57.53 and the mile in 4:19.89.
 
Other significant developments at the Gorilla Classic saw Taylor Weber improve upon her triple jump best by going 10.75 meters (35 feet, 3 ¼ inches) – just slightly better than the 10.74 and 35-3 she went last week – and that's enough for her to break a tie for third and to stand alone in third among individuals in the event in program history. She finished 20th.
 
In the men's triple jump, PJ Guidry had a quality effort of 13.35 (43-9 ½) to place 22^nd.

Grace Solarin improved her school record in the shot put with an 11th-place heave of 12.23 meters (40-1 1/2). 
 
Maya Ries finished 15^th in the women's 60 hurdles in 8.95, while Anthony Martinez was 18^th in the men's 60 hurdles in 8.33.
 
Also for the women, Claire Hummel was 27^th in the 60 in 7.92, Tanis Chavez was 37^th in the 800 in 2:22.24 and Caitlin Cornell ran the mile in 5:26.30, good for 51^st.
 
For the men, Ty Schauer (1:58.23) and Elijah Garcia (1:58.76) finished, 50^th and 55^th, respectively, in the 800, while Brandon Simpson was 35^th in the shot put at 13.06 meters (42-10 ¼).