Solid Start To 2025 For Cross Country In Las Cruces

Las Cruces, New Mexico - The New Mexico Highlands Cross Country teams opened the 2025 season at the Lori Fitzgerald Open at New Mexico State on Saturday morning with the men finishing sixth and the women coming in seventh.

"Good start to the season - our team finishes probably aren't indicative of where we are headed once we are at full strength, but our top three on both sides performed really well," said Coach Bob DeVries.

The women started the morning off and sophomore Summer Abeyta ran a personal best 18:38.9 over the 5k course to lead the way for the Cowgirls. Taylor Begay (19:40.8) and Hailey Renteria (19:50.0) were the second and third NMHU runners across the finish line. Kailyn Wilson (22:42.3) and Harlee Jaramillo (23:16.5) rounded out the team's top five.

"Summer set a personal best and pulled our freshmen - Taylor and Hailey - to fast college debuts," commented DeVries.

Weldon Chebon, a 2024 All-American, posted a fifth place finish as he completed the 5k course in 14:36.6.

"Weldon raced the top two men from Texas Tech hard over the first 2k and we really haven't done that kind of work at this point, but I love seeing him mix it up with the big boys," DeVries said.

James Kurui went 15:04.0 to finish 13th and Xavier Martinez (15:30.9) was 24th. Alonso Torres (16:28.2) and Jude Martinez (17:51.4) rounded out the Cowboy's finishers.

Looking ahead, DeVries said, "We have a lot of work to do over the next couple of months, but this group can race fast."

The next action for NMHU is at the Texas Tech Invite on September 12th.

Men's Team Results

1. New Mexico
2. Texas Tech
3. UTEP
4. New Mexico JC
5. New Mexico State
6. New Mexico Highlands
7. El Paso CC
8. Mesa CC
9. Univ of the Southwest

Women's Team Results

1. New Mexico State
2. Texas Tech
3. New Mexico
4. New Mexico JC
5. El Paso CC
6. Mesa CC
7. New Mexico Highlands
8. UTEP