LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's and women's cross country teams open the 2017 season with a pair of meets this weekend. The men's and women's teams split up with one squad going head-to-head with the Texas Tech in Ruidoso, N.M., on Friday, Sept. 1, and other competing at the Lobo Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday, Sept. 2.
"I'm very excited about the upcoming season, and to see what the future holds for the Aggie cross country teams!" head coach
Doug Reynolds said. "Coach [Joseph] Rath returns a more seasoned women's team this year, who did a great job in their off-season summer training. They are showing the fruits of that labor in our early season practices."
NM State returns
Crissey Amberg, who, at the Western Athletic Conference Championship, earned First Team All-WAC honors when she finished in sixth place. At the same meet,
Stephanie Quintero and
Cassey Amberg earned second team honors by placing 13
th and 14
th, respectively.
Julia Yescas was also named the WAC Women's Freshman of the Year since she was the first freshmen to finish the championship, coming in 18
th place.
"The men's team is very young, with eight newcomers, but we are excited to watch them develop this season," Reynolds said. "We expect them to compete like veterans when we reach the championship season."
New Mexico State returns senior
Eli Kosgei on the men's side, who placed 30
th at the WAC Championships in 2016. The Aggies add junior transfers
Jose Silva and
Abel Ketema to their roster this season. Ketema earned NJCAA Region XI All-Region honors in track and cross country while he was competing for Colby Community College.
"These opening meets allow us an early checkpoint for us to build from," assistant coach
Joseph Rath said. "At this time of year we are within some pretty heavy training blocks, so the focus will be on learning how to compete better as opposed to worrying as much about times or places."
The Aggies begin their meet against Texas Tech in Ruidoso, N.M., at 3 p.m. (MT) on Friday. The women's team takes the 4,500m course first with the men's squad to follow on the 5,200m course. On Saturday, both teams take the 5,000m course in Albuquerque, N.M., at 9:50 a.m.
