Sports Release
September 2, 1999

VERONICA SAMANIEGO AND HAWK HARRIS EARN 4TH PLACE FINISHES AT WEST TEXAS MEET
CANYON, TX — Veronica Samaniego (Sr., Sonora, TX/Sonora H.S.) placed fourth in the women’s race and Hawk Harris (Sr., Hobbs, NM/Hobbs H.S.) added a fourth place finish in the men’s race to lead the Eastern New Mexico cross country teams in their first action of the season at the West Texas A&M Meet in Canyon, Texas.

The ENMU women’s team placed third in the event, just 10 points behind second place West Texas A&M. Eastern’s men did not record a team score because Henry Varela (Sr., Pecos, NM/Pecos H.S.) missed the event due to injury.

South Plains College, with a score of 25, won the women’s division. West Texas was second with 46 points, followed by ENMU with 56 points and Panhandle State with 119 points.

In the men’s race, South Plains took first place with 24 points and West Texas was second with a score of 60. Wayland Baptist entered several runners but did not earn a team score.

Samaniego completed the women’s race in 22:51 to finish 46 seconds behind the individual winner, Lori Sanchez of South Plains (22:05). Second place went to Stacey Sigler of West Texas, who clocked in at 22:12. Samaniego was just 15 seconds behind third place finisher Marty Ann Hernandez of SPC (22:36).

Other top women’s finishers for ENMU were Mindy Clark (Jr., Carlsbad, NM/ Carlsbad H.S.) in 10th at 24:18, Michelle Rice (So., Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) In 11th at 25:15, Lindsey Pfaff (Fr., Los Alamos, NM/Los Alamos H.S.) In 12th at 25:19, and Jamie Faubus (Roswell, NM/N.M. Military Institute) in 18th at 27:42.

Harris recorded a time of 23:47 in the men’s race, finishing 14 seconds behind third place runner Ruben Hernandez of South Plains. Miguel Lira of SPC won the event in 23:20 and Justin Hesse of West Texas A&M took second in 23:26.

Other runners for ENMU were David Gonzales (So., Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.), who clocked in at 25:10 (11th), Juan Castanon (Jr., Carlsbad, NM/ Carlsbad H.S.) In 27:51 (15th), and Stephen Bogue (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Monzano H.S.) In 33:51.

ENMU’s next cross country action is Sept. 11 at Lubbock, Texas, when the Greyhounds and the Zias run at the Texas Tech Classic. The meet is set to get underway at 8:00 a.m. (MST).