ENMU Cross Country Teams Compete at University of New Mexico Invitational

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The Eastern New Mexico University cross country teams ran against six NCAA Division I teams, plus several Division II and junior college teams at the University of New Mexico Invitational, Sept. 14 in Albuquerque, N.M. Karissa Huskey (So., Syracuse, NE/Nebraska Wesleyan) finished 35th among runners who scored for their teams in the women’s race. Ben Muniz (Jr., El Paso, TX/El Paso JC) placed 62nd among scorers in the men’s race.

NCAA Division I teams competing at UNM where the host Lobos, plus New Mexico State University, Air Force Academy, University of Texas at El Paso, Louisiana State and Texas Tech University. The women’s team title went to Air Force, while the men’s championship was won by UNM. Eastern placed 10th out of 11 women’s teams and 11th out of 12 men’s teams.

In the women’s race, Rachael Cuellar of NMSU took first place with a time of 22:04 for the 6-kilometer course. She won by 41 seconds over Jacqueline Gallegos of UNM, who finished in 22:45. Bridget Tidwell of Texas Tech took third after clocking in with a time of 22:50.

Huskey ran the course in 24:48 for ENMU. Leora Shorty (Jr.,, Crownpoint, NM/Crownpoint HS) placed 47th among scorer, with a time of 25:30. Lynnae Chavez (Fr., Cimarron, NM/Cimarron HS) was 52nd in 26:20, Miranda Bonnett (Fr., Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) was 62nd in 26:49 and Rebekah McCann (Fr., Taos, NM/Taos HS), running in her first meet, was 81st in 32:46.

In the men’s competition, first place went to Ben Payne of Air Force, who crossed the finish line in 24:01 for the 8-kilometer race. UNM took the next four places, led by Clarke Cameron in second place with a time of 24:03. Cameron was quickly followed by a trio of UNM runners, as the top five places were separated by just 10 seconds.

Muniz registered a time of 27:29 for the Greyhounds. He finished just five seconds in front of teammate Orlando Sanchez (Fr., Los Lunas, NM/Los Lunas HS), who clocked in at 27:34 and placed 64th among scorers. Chad Penn (Fr., Canon, TX/Canon HS) ran the course in 28:05 to take 73rd place. Mario Cabrera (Fr., Texico, NM/Clovis HS) took 81st in 28:57 and Jerry Macias (Sr., Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces HS) was 88th in 29:21. Also running for ENMU were Clint Bizzell (Fr., Odessa, TX/Permian HS), who finished the race in 30:19, and Jerome Armijo (Fr., Glorieta, NM/Pecos HS), who recorded a time of 32:40.
Head Coach Greg LaSage was pleased with the times posted by Eastern’s runners. All of the Greyhounds and Zias who scored for their respective teams lowered their personal best times for the season.

The Greyhounds and Zias will not run this weekend. They are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the New Mexico Highlands University Meet.