LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State cross country hosts UTEP and El Paso Community College for the Kachina Classic on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the NM State track and intermural fields.
 
"On both sides, it should be a very competitive event against UTEP and El Paso CC. This will be our first opportunity for just about all of us to race together at the same time this year. UTEP has some really great runners up front that include a number of All-Americans and national qualifiers from last year," assistant coach Joseph Rath said. "We will need to break up their top three on each side in order to have a chance to challenge them for the team titles. It should make for a great test for us and it will be exciting to watch!"
 
NM State raced against both teams at the Lori Fitzgerald Classic in El Paso, Texas, last weekend with both the men's and women's teams placing third at the meet. In the men's 6.4k race, Jereme Santistevan finished first for New Mexico State, placing fifth with a time of 22:05.3. Corinne Hanson also placed fifth when she was the first Aggie to finish the 4.6k course, clocking in at 18:55.7.
 
"Our home meet is always a great opportunity for our community to get the chance to watch us race. This year will be extra special as Dr. Alan Caroe of Desert Springs Christian Academy has separately organized a series of youth races to follow ours. They have close to 200 USA Track and Field youth participants expected," Rath said. "KRUX radio will also be working the meet playing music and giving updates on the competition. It should all make for a packed and fun environment for the races to take place within."
 
The New Mexico State men's team hits the 7k course to start the collegiate meet at 8 a.m. (MT). The women's team competes on the 5k course at approximately 8:45.