LOGAN, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV finished ninth overall at the 2019 Mountain West Cross Country Championships Friday, held at Utah State's Steve and Dona Reeder Cross Country Course.
All five Rebel representatives finished within seven spots of each other with a spread of only 56 seconds from first to fifth.
Agnes Mansaray (22:46.3),
Avi'Tal Wilson-Perteete (22:48.6),
Emma Wahlenmaier (22:50.7).
Elisa Rovere (22:59.9) and
Mackenzie Moss (23:43.2) scored for the Scarlet & Gray.
Friday's finish was an improvement by two spots in the standings, as the Rebels concluded the 2018 MW Championships in 11th place.
TEAM RESULTS: New Mexico claimed its 12th straight MW title behind a total team score of 31 points and a time of 1:40.39. UNM had all five of its scoring runners finish 13th or better, three of which were in the top five. Air Force finished second overall (54 points/1:42.44) and Boise State was third (63/1:43.20). Colorado State (114/1:45.18), Utah State (134/1:46.12), Wyoming (170/1:47.41), San Jose State (194/1:49.23), UNR (244/1:51.43), UNLV (293/1:55:09), San Diego State (299/1:55.36) and Fresno State (326/1:57.21) rounded out 10th through 11th.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: UNM's Weini Kelati won the individual title for the second straight year, running a conference-best 19:11.2. Ednah Kurgat (20:00.2) and Hannah Nuttall (20:14.4) took second and fifth for the Lobos, while Air Force's Maria Mettler (20:13.1) and Mahala Norris (20:13.3) took third and fourth.
QUOTABLE: "This squad had the best pack differential they have ever had today (at sea level or altitude), with there being less than 60 seconds between our first and fifth scorers," said cross country coach
Angelina Ramos. "Give the altitude conversion, they gave their best effort and ran stronger than they ever have at this elevation. They packed up and had four within 11 seconds of each other and the fifth was true freshman (Moss). We were hungry for more, but we can't ignore the huge steps forward they took today as a team. I'm proud of them."
SILVER STATE SERIES: By virtue of a higher finish at the MW Cross Country Championships, UNR claimed the three points associated with the sport in the 2019-20 Silver State Series, which is presented by IBEW Local 401 and Nevada Donor Network. UNR leads the all-encompassing athletic and academic competition, which was previously known as the Governor's Series, 3-0; however, three more points will be awarded Friday evening for women's soccer as the Rebels host the Wolf Pack in Las Vegas at 7:00 pm.
UP NEXT: UNLV will return to action on Nov. 15 at the NCAA West Regionals (6K) in Colfax, Washington, which is located in the eastern portion of the state at the confluence of the north and south forks of the Palouse River.
