FINAL RESULTS
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands cross country teams took both titles in the lone home meet on Saturday (Sept. 27) in the annual HU Cross Country Jam. The Cowgirls knocked off both Western New Mexico and South Plains JC while the Cowboys squeaked by South Plains, 27-28.
Both the men's and the women's races literally came down to the final runner. In the men's race, Highlands and South Plains were tied at 18 points going into the fifth and last runner. However, the Cowboys'
Sam Roybal beat out Jacob Clark of South Plains by five seconds to help the home team claim the vicotry in the 8k race.
Andrew Enscanuela was the top finisher for the Cowboys, crossing the line second with a time of 25:51.23.
Raymond Tanui and Stephen Carbajal finished 4-5 with times of 26:09.25 and 26:11.51, respectively. Alonzo Chavez took seventh with a time of 26:37.99 to push South Plains and the Cowboys into a tie heading into the last and deciding runner.
As in the men's race, South Plains and the Cowgirls were in a battle for the top spot on the women's side. South Plains held a two-point lead heading to the final runner, but
Jaylene Garcia finished 45 seconds better the final South Plains runner. Highlands defeated South Plains 41-38.
Western New Mexico finished with 47 points to finish third.
Tayler Hendren finished second with a time of 19:27.56. While South Plains and Western New Mexico made up ground in the next four places, Highlands took the four-of-five finishers from 7-11 to win the meet.
Amanda Ortzow placed seventh, crossing the line in 20:30.
Jayme Quintana took eighth, nine seconds behind Ortzow.
Marlinda Pecos took 10th with a time of 20:52.34 before Garcia finished the 5k race in just more than 21 minutes to help rally the Cowgirls.
Both cross country teams return to action next Saturday (Oct. 4) at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
