Hays, Kansas - The New Mexico Highlands men's cross-country team placed 4th out of 18 teams at the Fort Hays State Tiger Open on Saturday, highlighted by a head-to-head win over regional rival Fort Hays State on their home course.
The Cowboy's Weldon Chebon had the race in hand before a late race mix up cost him the victory.Â
" The race finished on the track and Weldon was well in the lead, but he ran past the turn onto the track. There could have been better direction at the finish, but Weldon should have known the race was finishing," noted HU coach Bob DeVries.
Colorado School of Mines (#2 NCAA D2) won the team title with 48 points, followed by Haskell Indian (#6 NJCAA/104) and St. Mary (#6 NAIA/116). Highlands finished 4th with 122 points, edging out Hutchinson CC (125) and host Fort Hays State (126).Â
​Race Highlights
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​Weldon Chebon: Positioned himself in the lead pack and raced controlled throughout. He held the lead into the final straightaway before the late track finish mix-up cost him the individual victory.
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​James Kurui: Placed 4th overall, moving up patiently from around 20th place at the 2k mark into the lead group.
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​Lawrence Ragland: Broke the 26-minute barrier for the first time, running a personal best of 25:59.
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​Josh Mastrantoni: Ran a personal best of 27:09 to finish 49th.
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​Brandon Mirabal: Recorded a personal best of 27:49 to finish 56th.
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​Jacob Sierra: Ran a personal best of 28:03.
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​Kelvin Kogei: Competed through a back cramp in his first collegiate race.Â
​"Weldon looked like his old self -he moved into the lead pack and just raced relaxed until it was time to go," said Coach DeVries. "James always shows great tactical discipline moving up through the field"
"We had some solid personal records despite windy conditions and beating Fort Hays on their home course is a positive step for our regional standing, but our main focus now is staying healthy and putting in consistent work as we head toward conference and regionals."
