cheykoop@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

Last Saturday, the cross-country team opened its season in Alamosa, Texas at the 19th annual Joe I. Vigil Open. They were accompanied by hosts Adams State College, Western State, West Texas A&M, Garden City Community College, Fort Lewis College, Regis University, and Dine College. The Mavericks’ women placed sixth overall with a score of 146 points and the men placed seventh with a score of 179.

“Without our number four runner, Ben Hunter, we beat [Regis] by 50 points who were ranked ahead of us in the RMAC by four places,” captain Shane Niksic said. “They are ranked ninth and we are 13th.”

At the start of the season, the team did a lot of distance training and focused heavily on health and safety.

“As we are getting into the season we have started doing more tempo and speed work,” sophomore Tessa Grigsby said. “Our coach is really into nutrition and safety so he went over what is and isn’t good to eat while training and before competition.”

CMU’s fastest female runner of the weekend was Melissa Bauer with a final time of 19:32. She placed 25th with 18 points. The first place runner, Tara Richardson from Western State College, had a final time of 17:41.

“Right now we are experimenting with different racing techniques and strategies so that we can find out what’s best before we get to RMAC and regionals,” Bauer said.

Western State’s women’s team won the meet with a score of 29 points, while the men’s meet was won by Adams State with 19 points.

The Men’s team had a total time of 2:24:22. Shane Niksic led the Mavs with 23 points and a time of 27:35.

The Maverick’s next cross-country meet will be on Sept. 22 at Western State College in Gunnison.

“For Western State, based on yesterday’s race, we feel pretty prepared,” Niksic said.