The Bryan Clay Invitational has been very kind to Habtom Samuel.

Friday, New Mexico’s star distance runner finished the meet’s 5,000-meter final in 13 minutes and 3.47 seconds — a new NCAA record by 2.4 seconds.

Racing in Azusa, Calif., Samuel ran the final 800 meters in 1:58 to narrowly beat his previous record (13:05.87) set at last year’s Bryan Clay Invitational. Only Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich (13:13.43) finished within 10 seconds of Samuel at the Azusa Pacific-hosted meet.

Tayvon Kitchen of BYU finished third with a time of 13:16.27.

UNM senior Iker Sanchez Lopez (13:29.11) came in 12th and Lobo junior Evans Kilpagat (13:36.31) came in 18th.

With the record, Samuel remains the odds-on favorite to win a national title in the 5K — and the 10K — after placing second at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. The Keren, Eritrea finished 0.30 seconds behind Oklahoma State’s Brian Musau, denying him a shot at his second outdoor championship.

Samuel won an NCAA title in the indoor 5K in March, making him the first Lobo to win national championships in cross country and both indoor and outdoor track and field.

In the Women’s 5K, UNM’s Pamela Kosgei (15:03.09) secured her qualification for NCAA West Region Prelims with a third-place finish. BYU’s Jane Hedengren (14:50.50) and professional athlete Lexi Halladay-Lowry (14:58.83) finished in first and second. All three finished below the previous meet record.

UNM’s Marion Jepngetich (15:19.93) moved up to No. 2 on the UNM Outdoor List behind Kosgei with a new personal best that will also assure her advancement to NCAA Regionals.