The Western New Mexico University cross country teams ran in the 22nd Annual ASU Invitational Friday afternoon at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Ariz., with the Mustang men finishing in sixth place and the women coming in seventh in the competition that featured several local collegiate teams.
The men's squad scored 161 points to finish just behind Pima Community College who game in fifth with 148 points. The University of Arizona (36 points) and Arizona State University (42 points) were first and second respectively while Pepperdine (110), Dine College (127) and Pima Community College (148) rounding out the top 5 teams in the 11-team competition.
On the women's side, the MusItangs finished seventh overall with 206 points while Arizona (29 points) won the meet. UTEP (59), New Mexico State (70) and Pepperdine (110) finished ahead of the hosts to round out the Top 5 of the 12-team race.
Individually, the men were led by Paul Gonzalez (West Covina, CA/West Covina High School) (West Covina, CA), who crossed the tape in 26:26.6 to place 25th overall. Gonzalez was followed by Ryan Nez (Navajo, NM/Navajo Pine High School) (41st in 27:18.1), Kempton Jackson (Gallup, NM/Gallup High School) (52nd in 27L45.0), Chris Weaver (60th in 28:05.4), Dominick Duncan (Lordsburg, NM/Lordsburg High School) (70th in 28:30.1), Sam Velasco (92nd in 30:35.1), and Benedikt Domke (Freiburg, Germany/Silver High School) (98th in 30:50.3). Jacob Kirwa of Dine College won the men's race with the sixth-fastest time on the 8,000m course at Kiwanis, crossing the line in 24:15.9.
For the women, Pam Erickson (Golden Valley, AZ) led the charge as she finished 33rd overall in 20:08.0. Cassandra Sanchez (39th in 20:20.3), Ellen Mork (53rd in 21:20.8), Amy Roybal (65th is 21:24.0), and Danielle Williams (79th in 22:13.1) rounded out the Mustangs in the race. Kelly Young of UTEP won the women's individual title, running 18:13.2 over the 5,000m course.
In two weeks, the Mustangs will travel to Fort Lewis College to compete in the RMAC Championships.
Click here for complete results.
