LAS VEGAS, N.M. – It will be the lone home meet of the season for the New Mexico Highlands men's and women's cross country teams Saturday (Sept. 27) in the Highlands Cross Country Jam, but the Cowboys and Cowgirls will make the most of the day with junior high, junior varsity and high school races wrapped around the college runs. In all, eight difference races will take place, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Gene Torres Golf Course.
The restaurant will open early at 8 a.m. for the day's festivities.
The collegiate women's race, featuring the likes of the Cowgirls along with Western New Mexico, Oklahoma State Panhandle, South Plains Junior College and the University of New Mexico running club, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. The men – featuring the same teams – race at 10 a.m.
The Highlands men's team will be looking to hit its stride in its quest to make its second-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships. The Cowboys began the season with a win in the open division at Northern Arizona earlier this month.
"We are definitely reloading this season," head coach
Bob DeVries said
. "Stephen Carbajal, who was our number three runner last season, and
Andrew Enscanuela, who just missed the squad last season, are leading the charge for us this season."
For the Cowgirls, Saturday's meet will be a chance to defend the team title they won here in 2013. Junior
Tayler Hendren, from Belen, N.M., has led the way for the women in the first two meets and is expected to contend for the individual title on Saturday.
"This is a small meet, but it should be competitive," DeVries noted. "We match up well with Western New Mexico and South Plains is one of the favorites for the junior college national championship."
Races begin at 8 a.m. with the junior high girls.
SCHEDULE 8 a.m. Junior High Girls
8:15 a.m. Junior High Boys
8:30 a.m. JV Girls
9:00 a.m. JV Boys
9:30 a.m. Collegiate Women
10 a.m. Collegiate Men
10:30 a.m. High School Girls
11 a.m. High School Boys High school
Teams include West Las Vegas, Robertson, Carlsbad and Socorro.
Join us at JC's! After the collegiate meets, Highlands fans are encouraged to join us at JC's New York Pizza Department to meet the 2014 cross country teams at 11 a.m. All fans in Highlands gear will get 10 percent off of their bill. Stick around for the Cowboys football game from Fort Lewis, which will be shown live on television at noon.
Next Up The cross country teams return to action next Saturday (Oct. 4) at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
