by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's cross country team ended its season in bittersweet fashion Saturday with its best finish in 17 years at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships.
Head coach Matt Henry saw his team likely fall short of an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships, but it was the best finish for the women's team in Henry's tenure.
The team got solid performances from its top three runners as Jacquelyne Gallegos, Timmie Murphy and Leslie Luna all finished in the top 25 out of a field of 114 runners.
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Gallegos, who has been hobbled by a hamstring injury, placed 15th and completed the six-kilometer course in 21:50.
The performance marked the third time in her career the senior received all-region honors.
Murphy continued her amazing season, placing 19th in 22:05. Murphy came off a serious injury last year, and has provided a spark throughout the season, especially with the injury to Gallegos.
Luna has also been productive for the Lobos this season, receiving all-region honors for the first time in her career. The sophomore finished 23rd in 22:11.
Luna said she was happy to be named all-region, but was disappointed the team didn't qualify. She added she could have run better.
"That's a good honor. I wish I could have finished higher though," she said.
As for Gallegos, Luna said she was encouraged by the way she was able to bounce back and run well after the injury.
"I was really happy that she did well at regionals," she said. "It sucks that it's her senior year, but I am glad that she finished up well."
Luna said she was happy with what the team accomplished this season.
"We're upset that we didn't do better at regionals," she said. "We really wanted to qualify for nationals, but we finished 12th last year and to finish sixth this year, that's a huge improvement. So I'm really happy and excited for the next few years."
While UNM will not make the trip to the national meet as a team, the trio of Gallegos, Murphy and Luna have a shot of earning individual berths. The top four runners who are not on a qualifying team can earn individual berths at the NCAA Championships. The women will find out Monday whether they will make the trip, depending on how many teams from the Mountain Region qualify for the National Championships.
On the men's side, Cameron Clarke finished his UNM career with his best ever placing at the Mountain Regionals. The senior finished 30th, completing the eight-kilometer course in 31:55. Last year, Clarke placed 46th.
Senior Nate Clem also had his best finish at the regional meet to close out his collegiate career. He finished 36th, 29 spots higher than last season and stopped the clock in 32:11.
Junior Juan Ortega continued his progression as well, placing as the Lobos' third runner. Overall, Ortega finished 39th, an improvement of 39 spots from his 78th place finish in 2003, his last appearance at the meet. He finished the course in 32:14
Ortega said the team gave a good attempt, but added everyone could have run better.
"I was proud of the guys," he said. "It was a solid effort, but I wish we all would have moved up a little bit more."
