by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
If there is any question as to how good the UNM men's and women's cross country teams are, this weekend should be a true test.
The Lobos travel to Palo Alto, Calif., for the 32nd annual Stanford Invitational on Saturday.
UNM head coach Matt Henry has been so focused on the tournament that he held most of his top runners from last week's New Mexico State Kachina Classic.
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In Las Cruces last weekend, the top six runners for the men's team - senior Cameron Clarke and Nate Clem, juniors Stephen Martinez and Juan Ortega and sophomores Joseph Garcia and Dylan Rose-Coss - were held from the race to rest for the invitational.
Henry said the races will show where his teams rank against some of the nation's best schools.
"For our women, it could be a coming out," he said. "We can show what we really have."
Henry said the men are facing a big challenge as well.
"For the men, we have the opportunity to score some points and maybe get nominated as one of the top teams in the country," he said. "With both sides, we have a chance to show what we've got."
Though the season is just getting started, Henry said he has been impressed with both teams.
Senior Jacquelyne Gallegos, who won her first collegiate race at the UNM home meet, has been especially impressive, Henry said.
Gallegos was the women's lone qualifier for the NCAA Cross Country Championships last year, and Henry said the invitational should provide her with a good challenge.
"Jackie's going to get to see some really good competition," he said. "I think she's going to have a really good showing and be up there with the top runners."
Coming into the season, Henry said there were some concerns about depth on the men's team after losing several top runners from last year. From what he has seen so far, Henry said the team has performed well, but he knows there is still room for improvement.
"We've always had some guys around who can do some things," he said. "We still have to have a few more guys come around and help us."
Despite six runners resting last weekend, the men's team still managed to pull a third-place finish.
"Brandon Vigil was our top runner last week," Henry said. "I'm excited for Brandon. He's a huge competitor, and he's not afraid of anybody when he gets out there."
Vigil will join all six runners who didn't run in the Kachina Classic.
On the women's side, Gallegos will be joined by senior Janice Tosa, juniors Timmie Murphy and Riann Lucy, and sophomores Leslie Luna, Lindsay Barr, Melanie Velarde, Sheyenne Lewis and Seny Archuleta as the women return to a full squad.
This year, the invitational will host more than 3,000 runners from colleges and high schools and is the biggest cross country meet in Northern California.
