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Lobo InvitationalALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As the calendar turns to September, that means one thing: cross country season is here.
The University of New Mexico cross country team opens its season Saturday, September 2 as it hosts its annual Lobo Invitational at the UNM North Golf Course.
Although this weekend’s meet is essentially a preseason tune up, it gives the Lobos the opportunity to evaluate their depth and talent before beginning their season in earnest at the Notre Dame Invitational on September 29.
“The goals haven’t changed in 11 years: to finish in the top 10 in the country and challenge for a conference championship,” New Mexico head coach Joe Franklin said.
Since the first date to evaluate competitions for an at-large bid to the 2017 NCAA Championships is September 8, UNM won’t compete all of its top runners this Saturday.
But this weekend’s affair is a good test for a number of Lobos as they kick off the season.
For some runners looking to crack UNM’s top seven, this race provide an avenue for possibly contending for a larger role on the team’s travel squad.
For others aiming to get back in the competitive swing or making their New Mexico debut, this meet serves as solid early-season challenge.
The No. 4 New Mexico women open their season with three-time cross country All-American Alice Wright leading the way, while returners Natasha Bernal, Alex Buck and Kendall Kelly — all of whom scored for the Lobos last fall — can also contribute.
New Mexico also adds Sophie Eckel, Weini Kelati, Alondra Negrón Texidor, Charlotte Prouse and Ednah Kurgat, who sat out as a transfer last fall.
That group, which runs exceptionally deep, has the pedigree to continue the Lobos’ streak of seven-straight top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. It’s the longest-active streak of top-10 finishes in the nation.
This weekend, Kelly leads the Lobo women this weekend after placing third at this meet a year ago. She’ll be joined by Kieran Casey, Samantha Dicker, Eckel, Sarah Lavery, Elizabeth Reyes and Elizabeth Weiler.
On the men’s side, the New Mexico brings a number of runners back this season, including track standout Josh Kerr, Jacob Simonsen, Alexander Palm, Jared Garcia, Taylor Potter and Tyler Valdez.
Newcomers Ian Crowe-Wright, Jonny Glen, Iolo Hughes and Michael Wilson can also add to the Lobos as they look to make the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2014.
Like the women, the Lobo Invite gives some of the men’s other runners a chance to shine, as Crowe-Wright, Glen, Chris Graham, Taylor Potter, Gavin Sleeter, Tyler Valdez and Wilson compete for UNM.
Potter, Valdez and Graham all scored for New Mexico at the 2016 Lobo Invite.
The Lobos will be joined by New Mexico State, UTEP, Fresno State, UNLV and New Mexico Highlands at the Lobo Invitational, with both the men and women competing in a combined race at 9:50 a.m.
Check back Saturday afternoon for complete results and a recap of the Lobos’ action.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboXCTF on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!