LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands women's cross country team is set to compete at the NCAA South Central Region Championships in Lubbock this weekend.
Three teams qualify automatically from each of the eight regions with the remaining 10 at-large teams selected based on season-long performances.
With eight of the top 25 teams in the nation (and four of the top tean) in the region, the women's race will be more of a pre-national than a regional.
"Some very good teams are going to be left out of the national championships qualifying," NMHU coach
Bob DeVries said.
The NMHU women are coming off an 11th-place finish at the RMAC Championships on Oct. 23 in Golden, Colorado, and will look for a top-15 finish at the regional championships.
"Our young group is competing better every week," DeVries said. "They are going to experience true championship racing this week."
The Cowgirls have four freshmen and a sophomore among their top six this fall - led by
Faith Lovato (Rio Rancho High School) and local standout
Nieves Pacheco (Robertson HS).
