Top-ranked Lobo men, sixth-ranked women set for Mountain West Cross Country Championships
Mountain West XC Championships When: Friday, Oct. 30 Where: Reno, Nevada Stream: MW+ For Darren Gauson, it’s been a little bit of an adjustment. Throughout his career, New Mexico’s head cross country and track and field coach is used to fielding teams with a chip on their shoulder and a “siege mentality.” He wants his athletes to believe they’re underdogs and train with a “blue collar” edge. A ...
The UNM Lobos men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the Mountain West Cross Country Championships this Friday in Reno, Nevada. The men's team, currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S., has won the last three conference titles. Their top performer, sophomore Pasanjo Kitonga, led the team to victory in the Cowboy Jamboree and Nuttycombe Invitational.
However, adjusting to being the favored team has been challenging for coach Darren Gauson, who likened it to "taking over the mantle" from his former star athlete Habtom Samuel.
The Lobos women, ranked sixth, have faced injuries throughout the season but remain optimistic. Head coach Gauson believes that with proper recovery, the team could field three top-ranked runners at the national championships on November 21. Mercy Kirarei, the team's leading scorer, has consistently placed third and fourth at recent meets. Former NCAA champion Pamela Kosgei is uncertain if she will compete due to lingering hamstring and ankle injuries.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
