Eastern New Mexico University's women's cross country team finished tenth out of 15 teams at the Texas Tech Open in Lubbock, Texas. The meet included six schools from the Lone Star Conference.
Assistant coach Keyanah Browning commented on the team's performance: "We just got off to a slow start, and with how hilly the course was, it challenged us a bit," Browning said. "We're stilll getting race-sharpened, but the positive is we had all of our women out there competing today. Things are slowly coming together, and I really believe it's only up from here."
Chama El Hadiri led ENMU's runners, finishing her first collegiate race in 23:24.7. She placed 21st overall and recorded the fifth fastest time among freshmen in the field. Other scorers for ENMU were Elizabeth Lujan-Towles (26:16.5), Madison Manuelito (26:41.1), Joella Mathilda (26:57.6), and Alina Caballero (27:05.5). Both Manuelito and Mathilda made their season debuts at this event.
Additional finishers for Eastern New Mexico included Maya Garcia Schafer (27:46.5) and Valentina Rocabado Salazar (33:04.2).
ENMU finished ahead of Angelo State by one place and UT Permian Basin by four places, while Western New Mexico placed just ahead of them.
The race took place on the Lubbock Christian University cross country course, which started with a long straightaway followed by two shorter turns over hilly grass terrain around the facility's perimeter, completed twice by competitors. Conditions during the event were sunny with cooler temperatures.
The next competition for Eastern New Mexico women's cross country will be at the NMJC Invitational on September 26. The men's team is scheduled to compete September 13 at the Lobo Cross Country Invitational in Albuquerque.
