The Western New Mexico University cross country teams opened the 2015 season at the Joe Vigil Open that took place Saturday at the Cattails Golf Course.
The Lady Mustangs came in sixth with 161 points, while host Adams State took the title with their top six runners finishing one through six. WNMU was paced by Janice Chacon as she posted a time of 20:01.08 to come in 22nd. Guadalupe Cantoran was right behind in 25th with a time of 20:17.73. The final three runners for the Lady Mustangs all placed in a row from 37th to 39th place. Kassandra Covarrubias was the first one of the group across with a time of 22:21.14 to place 37th. Amanda McGinnis landed in 38th with a time of 23:02.78 and Clarissa Funaki rounded out the group with a time of 23:18.37 to place 39th.
On the men’s side, the Mustangs placed fifth with 139 points. Adams State also took the men’s title with their top five runners finishing one through five. Jesus Valdez had a solid finish for the Mustangs as he placed in the top-20 with a time of 27:39.98 to come in 15th. Joseph Schaaf just missed out on a top-20 result as he crossed in 21st with a time of 28:31.73. Jonathan Patron also placed in the top-30 with a time of 29:03.59 which was good for 27th. Dual-sport athletes Daniel Young and Vladimir Gnilozubov rounded out the runners for the Mustangs. Young came in 36th with a time of 30:49.77 and Gnilozubov in 40th with a clocked time of 35:37.53.
WNMU will return to action on Friday, Sep. 25 when they will compete in the NMHU Jamboree.