Cross Country News

Written By: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - In the sport of cross country, if a runner takes seconds off her time from one season to the next it is looked at as a solid improvement.  But if she erases minutes off from one season to the next, it is looked as significant accomplishment that happens to very few athletes.  New Mexico State women's cross country sophomore Amy Arenas is one of the few.
 
The Las Cruces native joined the Aggies' cross country team on her own accord after graduating from Mayfield High School in 2006.  The energetic harrier stands at 5-4 and always has a smile on her face.
 
Assistant coaches Meaghan Gregory and Paul Harkins said that Arenas is one of the most positive student-athletes on the team and that they could not be prouder of her transformation since high school. 
 

The Aggies are hosting the 2008 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the NMSU Golf Course. We talked with three of the key members of the women's team, junior Ingrid Flores, sophomore Brandi Gutierrez and sophomore Amy Arenas to get their thoughts on the season, their improvements and their thoughts on the championship meet.

bleedCrimson.net: Ingrid, you won the outdoor 5k at the WAC tournament and you were back-to-back WAC XC athlete of the week, then a couple weekends ago you were 6th at the Santa Clara invitational with a time of 17:38, almost a minute and a half faster than your result last year. What's been the biggest factor in your improvement and success this season.
Ingrid Flores: I think the biggest fact was just a mental reconstruction. I just went back and looked at all my races last year and I just said to myself I wanted to do a bit better and I wanted to improve in that. It all started last winter for me, that whole radical change.

The Aggies are hosting the 2008 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the NMSU Golf Course. We talked with three of the key members of the men's team, senior Josh Sifuentes, sophomore Michael Hart and freshman Ian Ruybalid to get their thoughts on the season, their improvements and their thoughts on the championship meet.

bleedCrimson.net: Ian, What's it been like for you coming in and being able to have an immediate impact as a freshman?
Ian Ruybalid: It's been great. When I first came here my goal was just to be in the top five. I had no idea I'd finish in the top three on the team in every meet. I've been really pleased with it. I've improved a lot since high school and so I'm really excited about that too.

bc.net: What are you looking forward to most in your first WAC Cross Country Championship meet?
IR: I'm looking forward to the level of the competition. I really want to get Top 14 hopefully. I've just gotta race smart and I want my team to do well too.

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - After a weekend off for rest and recovery, the New Mexico State cross country squads are hitting the road, Friday, Oct. 5, to compete at the Arizona State Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.

Assistant coach Paul Harkins said that the team is ready to get back on the course after a week off and feels that this is a great tune-up for the Santa Clara Invitational, which is the following week and then leading into conference.

"It will be nice to see some different scenery, along with different competition," Harkins said. "But this should be a great meet for us and I am excited about this team and their potential."

Harkins also stated that senior standout Josh Sifuentes (El Paso, Texas) is making his first appearance of the season after sitting out from an injury.

"Josh is a strong runner and should do well for the team, he should be up there with Michael (Hart)," he said.

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Saturday, Sept. 8 marks a new era of New Mexico State cross country, as head coach Orin Richburg and assistant coach Paul Harkins open the 2007 season. The Aggies will travel to Albuquerque, N.M., to compete at the Lobo Invitational and are taking a solid returning core on the women’s side and a plethora of new additions within the men’s squad.

This will be the first time in recent years that the Aggies open their season against I-25 rival, but both coaches said that they feel confident and are excited as the first meet approaches.

“We are looking forward to this meet,” Richburg and Harkins stated. “It gives us an opportunity to see what we have with the returning student-athletes and to see what we need to do to be successful at the conference meet.”

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State’s head coach Orin Richburg announced Thursday, Aug. 23 the hire of Paul Harkins as the assistant cross country for the Aggies. Harkins brings six years of coaching experience, along with an impressive athletic career to Las Cruces.

Harkins main responsibilities will include the training of the cross country men’s and women’s teams, along with the middle distance track and field runners. He will also assist in recruiting and day-by-day operations of the program.

Richburg believes that Harkins is a great addition to the program. Harkins was coached by Richburg at the University of Washington and completely understands Harkins work ethic and his commitment to excellence, which have carried over into coaching.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State cross country head coach Orin Richburg announced Tuesday, Aug. 14, the 2007 cross country schedule. The Aggies compete in six races, including three consecutive opening races in the Land of Enchantment.

For the first time in recent history, the Aggies kick off their season in Albuquerque, N.M., competing at the Lobo Invitational, Sept. 8.

A week later, the harriers travel to Santa Teresa, N.M. to compete at the Lori Fitzgerald Invitational looking to improve on the third-place marks set during the 2005 season.

On Sept. 22, both squads compete on their home course, at the Kachina Classic. Last season the women took the crown, with a first-place finish and the men finished seventh.

The first out-of-state race is in Tempe, Ariz., at the Arizona State Invitational. In past seasons, the Aggies have posted impressive marks at this meet, including a women’s third place finish and a men’s sixth-place finish in 2005.