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Senior Ariel Burr left a lasting impression in the final outdoor home meet of her collegiate career, playing a part in two victories and two NCAA regional qualifying times at the 18th Don Kirby Memorial Invitational on Saturday at the G.F.O. UNM Track Stadium. Her performance helped the New Mexico women's team clinch the Route 66 Hotel Casino Rio Grande Rivalry title with a 204-143 dual score victory over New Mexico State. New Mexico won the 2007-08 Rio Grande Rivalry by a cumulative score of 16.25-6.75.
Burr teamed with Sandy Fortner, Alesha Walker and fellow senior Kristan Matison to record an NCAA regional qualifying time of 45.70 (altitude-adjusted, 45.58 raw) en route to a 2.15-second victory over NMSU in the team's first 4x100 relay race of the season. The group became the first New Mexico foursome to advance to the NCAA regional meet in the event as they clocked the Lobos' fastest relay time since 2000.
Burr came back to run a sizzling 200 later in the afternoon, out-kicking South Plains College All-American Stephanie Simpson to win the event with an altitude-adjusted time of 23.74 (23.67 raw). Already a four-time regional qualifier in the 400, the Carrizozo, N.M. product qualified in the 200 for the second year in a row.
She capped the day by leading the women's 4x400 relay team to an altitude adjusted time of 3:48.08 (3:47.64) in its season-debut. New Mexico finished just 0.2 seconds behind first place South Plains College, which entered the meet as the top-ranked junior college 4x400 team in the nation after finishing second at the NJCAA Championships in 2007.
Burr finished her career undefeated at home in four individual races. She won the 400 in both 2005 and 2006 and captured the 200 in 2007 and '08. She also led the UNM 4x100 relay team to home victories all four years.
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