September 15, 1997
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755

This Week In ENMU Cross Country

Saturday, September 20
Greyhounds and Zias at Fort Lewis College TBA
Durango, Colorado

Much Improved...the Eastern New Mexico University cross country teams continued to show that they are much improved over last season with their performance this weekend at the Abilene Christian Cross Country Classic. Under Head Coach Jeff Arthur, the Greyhounds and Zias are in their second season of competition since the program was reinstated in 1996. Both teams will get an opportunity to run in a very different climate this weekend when they travel to the altitude of Durango, Colorado.

The Zias...finished sixth in the team scoring at ACU with 165 points. Mindy Clark (Fr., Carlsbad) was the top finisher for the second week in a row with a 3-mile time of 21:41 (22nd). Sophomore Vern Samaniego (Sonora, Texas) and Shilohe Polega (Portales) finished 26th and 28th with times of 21:48 and 21:56, respectively. Senior Jeanne Laizure (Fort Worth, Texas) finished with a time of 22:32, while Lisa Hippely (Chardon, Ohio) had a time of 30:52.

The Greyhounds...had four young men compete for them at the ACU Cross Country Classic. Senior Dave Anderson (Albuquerque) was the top finisher for the Hounds with a four-mile time of 25:37 (56th). Sophomore Henry Varela (Pecos) finished 57th with a time of 26:06. Last week's top finisher John Lomasney (Gallup) finished 62nd with a time of 26:42. Billy Van Curen (Sr., Artesia) rounded out the group with a 70th place finish of 29:03.

Waiting on the Clearinghouse...is the name of the game for two Greyhound runners. Jason Curio and Allen Sanchez are still waiting for final clearance from the NCAA Clearinghouse.

The New Lone Star Conference...the Zias and Hounds are using their five regular season meets to prepare for the 1997 Lone Star Conference Championship Meet on Saturday, October 25 at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. With conference expansion, thirteen women's and eleven men's teams will compete for the LSC title.

Up Next...for ENMU is a meet at New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, September 27.

-ENMU-