September 22, 1997
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755

This Week In ENMU Cross Country

Saturday, September 27
Greyhounds and Zias at New Mexico Highlands 10:00 am
Las Vegas

Much Improved...the Eastern New Mexico University cross country teams got a taste of altitude this weekend in Durango, Colorado. They will compete at intrastate rival New Mexico Highlands this weekend. Under Head Coach Jeff Arthur, the Greyhounds and Zias are in their second season of competition since the program was reinstated in 1996.

The Zias...finished fourth in the team scoring at Fort Lewis College with 102 points. Mindy Clark (Fr., Carlsbad) was the top finisher for the third week in a row with a 5-kilometer time of 22:47 (15th). Sophomore Vern Samaniego (Sonora, Texas) was one second behind her in 16th place. Shilohe Polega (So., Portales) finished 18th with a time of 22:55. Senior Jeanne Laizure (Fort Worth, Texas) finished with a time of 23:53, while Lisa Hippely (Chardon, Ohio) had a time of 32:09. The Zias hope to gain some help in the team scoring from newcomer Jennifer Voris, a freshman from Albuquerque (Eldorado High School).

The Greyhounds...had their first team score of the season with addition Tyrone Sunde, a freshman from Hugo, Minnesota. The Hounds finished 6th in the team scoring with 190 points. Senior Dave Anderson (Albuquerque) was the top finisher for the Hounds with an 8-kilometer time of 32:31 (37th). Sophomore Henry Varela (Pecos) finished 38th with a time of 32:48. Sophomore John Lomasney (Gallup) finished 39th with a time of 33:51, while Billy Van Curen (Sr., Artesia) and Sunde finished 40th (35:41) and 41st (36:17), respectively.

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 week break before they travel to West Texas A&M on October 10.

-ENMU-