Staff Report
For Jeremy Johnson and Timmie Murphy, the rest paid off.
After sitting out last weekend's Kachina Classic at NMSU, Murphy and Johnson rejoined the Lobo cross country team, as the Lobos returned to action Saturday at the Stanford Invitational.
Last weekend, head coach Matt Henry held out his top four men's runners and the top six runners on the women's side to prepare them for the Stanford Invitational
On Saturday, Johnson led the men's team to a sixth-place finish by placing third at the meet. In the 8,000-meter race, Johnson raced to a career-best time of 23:40. Johnson finished nine seconds behind the winner, All-American Neftalem Araia of Stanford.
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His time of 23:40 was 31 seconds faster than his previous career best, which he recorded as a freshman.
On the women's side, Murphy also helped the Lobos to a sixth-place finish. The senior placed seventh and also recorded a career-best time.
Murphy crossed the line of the 6,000-meter course in 20:40, which is 26 seconds faster than her previous best.
Behind Murphy, junior Leslie Luna finished 20th in a time of 21:38. Last season at the Stanford Invitational, Luna placed 64th.
Freshman Vanessa Ortiz placed 35th in 22:08. Junior Melanie Velarde placed 49th in 22:32, while fellow junior Sheyenne Lewis finished 64th in 22:57.
On the men's side, senior Juan Ortega also recorded a career-best time in 24:21 and placed 23rd. Last year at Stanford, Ortega finished 69th overall.
Junior Joseph Garcia finished in 24:53 to place 41st, while freshman Jason Petty finished 90th in 25:40. Junior Chris Bratton rounded out the Lobo scoring by placing 101st in 25:50.
