LAS CRUCES, N.M. – School is back in session, and so are the Aggies. Following the 2024-25 season, NM State has added 16 new student-athletes, including four male athletes and 12 females.
 
Bolstering the Aggies' roster are additions from the state of New Mexico and Texas, totaling eight student-athletes. Among the group of 16 newcomers, six joined through the transfer portal with four of the six previously competing at Division I programs.
 
With these new additions, NM State's cross country roster now stands at 30 student-athletes.
 
Abigail Beam | Distance | Rio Rancho, N.M. | Rio Rancho HS | Fr.
 
Joins the Aggies after competing for the Rio Rancho Rams in Rio Rancho, N.M... holds a personal best of 18:58.70 in the 5k... on the track, she posted a personal best of 5:14.14 (to take third in the 1600m at the NMAA 5A Track & Field Championships; similarly taking third in the 1600m at the meet with a time of 11:16.53... holds a personal best of 11:07.23 in the 3200m... finished fourth at the 2024 NMAA Cross Country Championships with a time of 19:04.10.
 
Alyssa Crump | Sprints | Conyers, Ga. | Heritage HS | Fr.
 
Joins the Aggies out of Heritage High School in Conyers, Ga... tallied a personal best of 11.70 seconds in the 100m dash, while also finishing 11th at the GHSA 6A Sectional B (12.19)... holds a personal record of 24.21 in the 200m... in 2024 made an appearance at the adidas Track Nationals in the 100m and 200m, advancing to the 100m finals, tallying a time of 12.17.
 
Presley Edwards | Throws | Edgewood, N.M. | Moriarty HS | Fr.
 
Joins the Crimson & White out of Moriarty HS... took home the javelin championship at the 2025 NMAA 4A State Track & Field Championships with a personal best distance of 39.11m (128-4")... added fourth-place finishes in both the discus and the long jump (5.48m)... also claimed the 2024 NMAA 4A State Track & Field title in javelin.
 
Omer Ibrahim | Distance | El Paso, Texas | Tarleton | So.
 
Adds to the Aggie squad after spending his first season at Tarleton... helped the DMR team to a fifth-place finish at the 2025 WAC Championships... holds a collegiate best of 3:58.66 (1500m)... all-time personal bests include times of 1:51.81 (800m), 4:18.30 (1600m) and 15:02.15 (5k).
 
Aja Johnson | Sprints | Dallas, Texas | UTRGV | So.
 
Joins the Aggies after completing her first collegiate season at UTRGV, competing primarily in the long jump... holds a collegiate best of 5.47m in the long jump, while posting a time of 26.99 in her sole 200m race of the 2024-25 season.
 
Avery Jordan | Throws | Edmond, Okla. | Edmond Memorial HS | Fr.
 
Joins NM State from Edmond Memorial HS... holds a personal best in the discus of 39.37m (129-2"), while taking seventh in the event at the OSSAA 5A/6A State Championship (38.10m).


Ainsleigh Kasprick | Distance | Moab, Utah | Grand County HS | Fr.
 
Joins NM State after competing at Grand County High School in Moab, Utah... finished fourth overall at the 2023 Nike Cross Regionals (Southwest)... in 2025, earned a pair of gold medals at the 2025 UHSAA State Championships in the 800m (2:15.51 - personal best) and the 1600m (5:03.76)... also finished second in the 3200m (11:14.99)... holds personal bests of 4:39.43 (1500m), 4:18.30 (1600m) and 4:58.16 (mile).


Brooke Kelly | Distance | Albuquerque, N.M. | St. Pius X HS | Fr.
 
Joins NM State after competing at St.Pius X high school in Albuquerque... recorded a personal best in the 5k at the 2024 Nike Cross Nationals Southwest Regional with a time of 18:47.24 to finish eighth overall... recorded a personal best of 11:53.60 in the 3200m, finishing ninth at the NMAA 4A Track & Field Championships (12:17.16)... holds a personal best of 5:32.51 in the 1600m.
 
Quenton Metz | Distance | Chino Valley, Ariz. | Mesa CC | So.
 
Joins the Aggies from Mesa CC, where he competed during his freshman campaign... during his time with the Thunderbirds, Metz amassed personal bests of: 4:08.25 (1500m), 9:13.81 (3000m), 10:02.34 (3000m Steeplechase) and a time of 16:25.9 in the 2024 Lori Fitzgerald Memorial Open, hosted by NM State. 

In high school, Metz competed at Chino Valley HS, competing for his father and former GCU student-athlete Marc Metz... at the time of graduation held school records in the 1600m, 3200m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, DMR, 4x400m and the 4x800m... pursuing a degree in engineering.
 
Julia Nystrand | Throws | Espoo, Finland | Brändö Gymnasium | Fr.
 
Joins NM State out Espoo, Finland… recorded a silver-medal finish in the discus at the U20 Finnish Championships, while also collecting bronze in the shot put… holds personal bests of 13.69m in the shot put and 42.15m in the discus.
 
Kobe Rodriguez | Distance | Las Cruces, N.M. | Organ Mountain HS | Fr.
 
Joins the Aggies after competing at Organ Mountain High School in Las Cruces... recorded a standout senior season with the Knights, finishing 10th at the 2024 NMAA State XC Championships, posting a time of 16:30.50 in the 5k... followed up by competing at the Nike Cross Nationals (Southwest Regional)... tallied a personal best of 9:54.63 in the 3200m, taking 10th overall at the NMAA 5A State Track & Field Championships... posted a personal best of 4:33.85 in the 1600m. 
 
Ksyusha Shakhova | Throws | St.Petersburg, Russia
 
Joins the Aggies after competing in her home country of Russia…. holds personal bests of 51.36m in the discus, and 14.50m in the shot put.
 
Adéla Steinsová | Distance | Czech Republic |Purdue University | So.
 
Spent her first collegiate season in West Lafayette, competing in middle distance events... holds personal bests of 57.76 (400m), 2:08.15 (800m) and 4:30.29 (1500m).
 
Eloïse Stuart | Distance | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Miami (FL) | So.
 
Completed her inaugural collegiate season at Miami (FL), suiting up in six cross country meets... made an appearance at the 2024 NCAA South Regional, posting a time of 23:15.3 (6k)... holds personal bests of 58.69 (400m), 2:14.55 (800m) and 5:11.43 (1600m).
 
Kennedy Taylor | Sprints | Mansfield, Texas | Mansfield Lake Ridge HS | Fr.
 
Joins the Aggies from Mansfield Lake Ridge HS... finished fifth at the UIL 6A - Area 3 & 4 in the 400m with a season-best time of 56.91 seconds... tallied a personal best in the event at the 2024 UIL Region 2-6A | Region 3-3A Championships (56.48)... holds a personal best time of 26.17 in the 200m and 8.08 in the 60m dash. 
 
Nick Valle | Distance | San Antonio, Texas | Mesa CC | Jr.
 
Joins the Aggies after a pair of seasons at Mesa CC, where he tallied a pair of First Team NJCAA (Division II) All-American Honors, finishing third at the 2023 NJCAA Region I Cross Country Championship (26:52.6), and second in the 2024 edition (25:27.1)... also posted a pair of top-five finishes in the 5000m (15:19.72) and 10,000m (32:20.69) at the 2025 NJCAA Region I Track & Field Championships. 
 
QUOTABLE | HEAD COACH JOSEPH RATH
 
"We're thrilled to welcome our newest members to campus!
 
Men's Cross Country is gaining some very solid talent with a group of experienced transfers—including a local legend—who are ready to make an immediate impact.
 
Women's Distance sees a major boost with the addition of strong middle-distance depth and a standout group of freshmen we're eager to watch develop.
 
In Sprints and Jumps, we've added explosive talent that we believe will make an instant difference—strengthening our relays and adding versatility across the board.
 
Our Throws group brings a unique blend of multi-event experience and - fun fact - might just be the tallest group we've ever had join us!
 
Our coaching staff couldn't be more excited to get to know this crew better each day and to help them grow into the incredible potential they bring to our program."
 
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