As the season approaches, the men and women cross country runners mentally prepare for improvement and consistency at all their meets this year. With key runners Kempton Jackson (Gallup, NM/Gallup High School), Wilton Atkins (Wanganui, New Zealand/Wanganui Collegiate School), and Amy Roybal (Pojoaque Valley, NM/Pojoaque Valley High School) not on the squads this year, head coach Macario Campos depends on his returners and new recruits to carry the team to victory.

Last season at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship, injuries and sickness hindered the amount of success the WNMU cross country team could have. In the 2010 season, Campos desires to better the previous season's results at the RMAC Championships. He believes, with the combination of a compact team on the men's side and hard work on the women's side, great things will come their way.

The lone senior and upperclassmen on the men's squad this year is Matt Snay (Kingman, AZ, Kingman High School, Mohave Community College). Campos will depend on Snay's leadership and hard work to help the Mustangs achieve their goals. Last season, Snay raced in all six meets placing second for the Mustangs in four of the six. His best race was at the Lori Fitzgerald Invite in El Paso, Texas. In this particular 6.8K run, he posted a time of 22:34, good for 25th place out of 41 runners.

“Matt brings leadership and hard racing. I can always count on his best effort,” comments Campos.

Another returner for the men's team is redshirt freshman Dustin Walthall (Smith Lake, NM, Thoreau High School). Being one of the top New Mexico preps in high school, Walthall is anxious to get out and compete. Campos believes he will be in the Mustangs top three runners. At Thoreau High School during his senior year, Walthall was the state cross country champion, state 3200m track champion, and runner-up in the mile run at state.

Four new recruits were added to the men's squad. Timo Kilp (Kose Harju, Estonia, Audentes Sports School) is one of the fastest recruit that the Mustangs have ever had come to their program. Kilp is from a sea level environment in Kose Harju, Estonia. Campos believes that once Kilp acclimates to the higher elevation of Silver City then Kilp can expect solid results.

Michael Montoya (Albuquerque, NM, Manzano High School), a freshman from Albuquerque, was one of the fastest New Mexico cross country preps. In high school, Montoya was all-district all four years and was all-state for three. His senior year he was also placed on the All-Harrier Team and honored as the team's most valuable runner. “Michael has demonstrated that strength during our first couple of weeks of practice,” states Campos.

Newcomers Anthony Martinez (Anthony, NM, Gadsden High School) and Zach Enriguez (Hobbs, NM, Hobbs High School) have also demonstrated a strong work ethic during the Mustangs workouts. Martinez is a freshman from Anthony, New Mexico. Enriquez attended Hobbs High School in Hobbs, New Mexico. At Hobbs, Enriquez was district champion his sophomore and junior years.

On the women's side, number one runner from last season Nicole Luna (Pueblo of Laguna, NM, Laguna-Acoma High School) has returned. In 2009 as a freshman, Luna took first place for the Mustangs in every meet except for one. Her best 5K run was at the Arizona State Invite where she posted a time of 19:19.

Two other returners for the women's side are Cassandra Sanchez (Acoma Pueblo, NM, Laguna Acoma High School) and Sheilah Koskey (Eldoret, Kenya, Moi Forces Academy). Sanchez is the only senior on the squad. Last year, she ran solid at WNMU's number two spot throughout the season. Sanchez placed first for the Mustangs at the Triton Classic in San Diego, California. At this race, she recorded a time of 25:27 in the 6K run. Koskey, originally from Eldoret, Kenya, ran in five of the six meets last year. 

A junior college All-American is one of the top new recruits for Campos' squad in 2010. Flor Luna (El Paso, TX, Montwood High School, El Paso Community College) is a 5-1 junior from El Paso, Texas. “Flor has been looking very strong in practice. I look forward to seeing her compete,” comments Campos.

On both the men and women's squads, all the new recruits bring a great dedicated work ethic to the WNMU cross country program. “I am excited because we have two groups that have a passion to run,” notes Campos.

Out of each and every one of his recruits, Campos will look for a good work ethic, dedication, determination, and a desire to improve and push themselves. Campos believes that if they do just this and stay healthy, then positive results will occur.

On the men's side, the squad is already very compact and encouraging each other. During practices, they are all pushing each other to be better. On the women's side, the three returners all bring consistency and a hard work ethic. With the addition of the new Lady Mustangs, Campos feels they can move up a couple of spots at conference.

This year the NCAA lengthened the cross country season because of the Fall Festival, so it will be two or three weeks longer than normal. With a lengthened schedule, the Mustangs will get a little more rest in between events. The combination of more rest, veteran runners, and top new recruits brings high hopes to the 2010 men and women's cross country teams.

The two programs open their season this Saturday at the George Kyte Classic in Flagstaff, Arizona.