Sports Reporter
The men and women’s cross country team is ready to take another step towards being an elite program.
With a strong recruiting class and hard-working leaders, the team has RMAC championship and national-qualifying aspirations.
“Our recruiting class is looking good enough that if everyone puts in the work over the summer we are going to have a really good shot of making Nationals,” sophomore Shane Niksic said. “Hopefully, at that point, it will just become a team cultural thing where it’s expected to make it to Nationals.”
The men’s side is still a new program but has made important strides since its first season in 2011. Assistant coach Brent Alumbaugh said the growth of the men’s team in one year is incredible.
“I’ve seen the men’s team evolve from guys who just own running shoes to individuals who are passionate about running,” Alumbaugh said. “We’ve had passionate runners but now the team has members who live for running.”
With the men’s first real recruiting class coming in the fall, Alumbaugh said the incoming freshmen will probably be the faster runners. Important for their development will be returning runners like Niksic.
Niksic is accomplishing amazing things for the track team, including an NCAA championship appearance this spring, and will provide an example of what it takes to be a great runner.
“I will probably be a guy deeper in the roster because I’m more of a sprinter genetically, but hopefully I’ll still be the number four or five guy so I can help push those guys in front of me both at practice and in races,” Niksic said.
The women didn’t have as strong of a recruiting year, but will expect solid performances from returners Shannon Emery and Melissa Bauer. The team is also adding Chelsea Lyons from the track team.
“It was harder to recruit for the women’s side this year but we have great runners in Shannon and now Chelsea from track,” Alumbaugh said. “I think Chelsea will surprise a lot of people this year.”
Emery said the RMAC will be tough with teams like Adams State and Western State, but the team will be up for the challenge and has been training hard.
“We have a very competitive conference but if we stay focused and work together we can reach our goals,” said Emery. “If we do well at regionals we can earn a spot to nationals as a team and we have higher expectations for how this season should go.”
scschroc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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