Las Vegas, New Mexico - The 2024 RMAC Cross Country Championships were in Las Vegas on Saturday for the first time since 2010 on an absolutely gorgeous day at the Gene Torres Golf Course.
"This was a great event, the best DII cross country race in the whole country and our community really came out in support," said Head Coach
Bob DeVries after Saturday's races.
On the NMHU finishes DeVries said, "A little disappointing on both sides. I expected us to compete better on our home course in both races."
For the Cowboys freshman
Weldon Chebon earned first team All-RMAC with a 14th place finish and freshman
James Kurui finished 15th to garner second team All-RMAC on Saturday. Freshman
Lawrence Ragland was the third finisher for NMHU.
"This was not the race we came to run. The RMAC is the best cross country conference in the nation, but we should be in the top 10," commented DeVries. "Weldon got a little over-anxious and led too early - then it became the peloton chasing down the leader. That's a tough spot."
DeVries continued, "James and Lawrence raced incredibly well. James wasn't even in the top 40 at 1k - he just kept grinding and racing and passing people. Lawrence showed great poise and confidence for a freshman in his first championship race. We raced without our #5 man -
Edgar Hernandez - I pulled him from the course when it was clear he was racing hurt, with Eddie, we probably jump in front of South Dakota Mines."
For the Cowgirls,
Jewels Leslie was the top finisher at 24:13.7. She was followed by
Cemore Donald who posted a 25:10.3.
On the Women's race Coach DeVries said, "We got solid efforts from Jewels and Cemore, but when it got really tough we found reasons to not challenge ourselves. We have to get focused on a tough racing mentality."
Up next NMHU will be at the NCAA South Central Regionals at Denver's Washington Park on November 7th.
"We have another two weeks until Regionals and we're going to focus on having a race plan and challenging ourselves to race out of our comfort zone," concluded DeVries.
