by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
The Lobos are finally at full strength for their biggest meet of the season.
They have missed at least one of their top seven runners at every race they have competed in this year but should have all of their runners healthy and ready to go for the NCAA Championships in Indiana on Monday.
Freshman Shadrack Biwott missed the Mountain Region Championships because of the flu. Biwott said he feels better and will compete in the race.
He could boost a team that has seen success even with the injuries and sicknesses endured throughout the season.
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The Lobo men are ranked No. 20 in the nation.
"Someone always steps up," senior and All-American Matt Gonzales said. "We have a lot of depth."
The team has so much depth, head coach Matt Henry faces the challenge of telling one of his runners they will have to sit out nationals. He said he has eight solid men, but only seven are allowed to race.
"It's going to be real tough," he said. "I have to disappoint someone in the next few days."
But the coach said he is still confident.
"We've been preparing for this meet for a couple of years," he said. "I've always thought that we can make top 10 or better."
Several key team members could end their Lobo cross-country careers on a high. Gonzales, Ben Ortega, Nick Martinez and Sean Flaherty are all seniors in their last year on the team.
"It's our last go round, our last trip together, and we're going to keep it rolling," Gonzalez said. "Everyone is going to step up."
Ortega said he felt the same way.
"We are a close team, willing to back each other up," he said. "This has been a dream for all of us since high school, and now it's happening."
The Lobos have some momentum coming off the regional meet that earned them a trip to nationals.
"If there is such a thing as peaking, then I believe our guys are doing it now," said Henry. "They've been running well."
Gonzales competed at the Olympic Trials and is a four-time All-American in cross country and track, but he hasn't won a national championship.
"The three races I cared about this year were pre-nationals, regionals and of course, nationals," said Gonzalez. "I've won the first two, so I'm right on schedule, and I have confidence I can get it done."
In the women's race, senior Jacquelyne Gallegos will be the lone representative for UNM. Gallegos has come back from injuries that slowed her down the past couple seasons.
"If they can race the way we know they can, it can be real fun," Henry said.
