Complete Results of the Kachina Classic in PDF Format
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Sept. 18, 2004
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Senior Ben Ortega and junior Cameron Clarke finished seventh and eighth, respectively, to lead the short-handed University of New Mexico men’s cross country team to a second place finish at the Kachina Classic meet this morning the New Mexico State University Golf Course. Senior Jacquelyne Gallegos was impressive once again, placing fourth overall to help the UNM women finish third. Division II power Adams State College swept both the men’s and women’s team titles.
UNM head coach Matt Henry gave three of the Lobos’ top five men (seniors Matt Gonzales and Sean Flaherty, and freshman Shadrack Biwott) the weekend off to rest for the upcoming Great American Cross Country Festival on Oct. 1.
Ortega and Clarke, however, led a tight group of Cherry and Silver clad runners in a solid performance. The Lobo duo finished in a virtual tie, recording identical times of 23:16, less than a minute behind the winner, Aucencio Martinez of Adams State (22:28). Ortega was the team’s third finisher, behind Biwott and Gonzales, at last week’s Lobo Invitational in Albuquerque, a meet Clarke missed due to illness.
Brothers Nick and Stephen Martinez finished 11th (23:42) and 12th (23:43), respectively, while freshman Joseph Garcia was 11 seconds behind in 13th to cap the UNM scoring. New Mexico’s pack spread was a slim 38 seconds and the Lobos’ first seven runners, including junior Nate Clem (14th – 23:58) and sophomore Juan Ortega (17th – 24:08), finished less than a minute apart.
Gallegos, meanwhile, kept her momentum going in her second race of the year. The reigning Mountain West Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week completed the 5,000-meter course in 17:58, just 12 seconds off the winner, Adriana Pirtea of UTEP. Sophomore Riann Lucy was second on the team, placing 13th overall with a time of 19:25. True freshman Lindsay Barr was two spots behind with a time of 19:41, followed by senior Vanessa Funston (17th – 19:52) and junior Janice Tosa (19th – 20:06). Rookie runners Leslie Luna and Stasia Ploskonka ran side-by-side, placing 25th (20:35) and 26th (20:37), respectively, to round out the Lobos’ top seven.