EL PASO, Texas – Two weeks removed from the season-opening Art Morgan Classic, NM State returned to action for the 40^th annual Lori Fitzgerald Memorial Open, hosted by UTEP at Ascarate Park in El Paso. A select group of student-athletes made the short drive down I-10, highlighted by senior Marlene Mosqueda's runner-up finish in the women's 5k. 
 
Kicking off the morning in the Lone Star State at 7 a.m., the women's 5k saw six Aggies compete. Marlene Mosqueda led the charge for the Crimson & White, posting a time of 18:26.0 to take second place – a best placement in cross country competition for the Deming, N.M., native. 
 
Adéla Steinsová made her season debut in El Paso, finishing in seventh place with a time of 18:52.0. Melany Mosqueda posted a new personal best in the 5k, finishing 15^th overall with a time of 20:02.0.
 
Nieve Laird (20:22.0) and Alexandra Ordaz (21:55.0) rounded out the NM State finishers on Saturday morning. 
 
On the men's side, the course at Ascarate Park was extended to an 8k, where the Aggies finished second as a team. WNMU transfer and senior Michael Castorena tabbed the top time among NM State, taking 11^th overall with a time of 25:36.0. Following directly behind Castorena was a quartet of Aggies – Omer Ibrahim, Leo Pausch (8k debut), Antonio Arreola (8k debut) and Gabriel Uranga (25:55.0). 
 
Jonah Archer (26:29.0) and Quenton Metz (27:28.0, 8k debut at NM State) closed out the day of action for the Aggies. 
 
2026 Lori Fitzgerald Memorial Open
Women's Results

1. UTEP –  35
2. El Paso CC – 38
3. NM State – 54

 
Men's Results

1. UTEP –  17
2. NM State – 60
3. El Paso CC – 67

 
UP NEXT
NM State looks ahead to the Cowboy Jamboree, held on Saturday, Sept. 26, hosted by Oklahoma State at the Greiner Family Oklahoma State Cross Country Course. This will be the first time the Aggies will compete at the meet since the 2011-2012 season. 
 
For complete coverage of NM State Cross Country, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateXCTF), Instagram (@NMStateXCTF), and like us on Facebook (NMStateTrackXC).