Lobos’ XC 7 earn USTFCCCA all-academic

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The seven New Mexico cross country runners who lifted the team to a national runner-up finish last November have each been named all-academic for the 2022 season announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Samree Dishon, Abigail Goldstein, Emma Heckel, Gracelyn Larkin, Amelia Mazza-Downie, Elise Thorner, and Ali Upshaw were each named recipients of the award, which is reserved for runners who combine excellence in the classroom with outstanding performances on the course.

It was the third year in-a-row that Larkin and Mazza-Downie received the honor, while Goldstein, Heckel, and Upshaw were named all-academic for the second straight season.

An All-American in cross country for the third straight season, Larkin placed 26th at the NCAA meet with a time of 20:03.8 minutes. The junior is an exercise science major with a 3.85 GPA.

Mazza-Downie won the Mountain West Championships title for the second straight season, before claiming All-American status with a 22nd-place finish in a time of 20:02.8 minutes at the national meet. She is a psychology major with a 3.70 GPA.

Heckel was a major contributor to the Lobos’ success at the national meet, earning All-America recognition with a 38th-place finish in a time of 20:13.6 minutes. Heckel is an exercise science major with a 4.01 GPA.

In her final season of cross country eligibility, Goldstein finished with a time of 20:41.1 minutes at the championship race. The graduate student carried a 4.02 GPA on the way to her second straight honor.

Dishon earned All-America status, finishing 37th at the national meet with a time of 20:13.5 minutes. The junior is a psychology major with a 3.73 grade point average. Thorner also earned her first cross country All-American award last fall, finishing in 40th place with a time of 20:13.9 minutes. Thorner is a communications major and has a 3.34 GPA.

Another key contributor for the Lobos last fall, Upshaw earned USTFCCCA all-region accolades for the second straight season. Upshaw is majoring in community health and holds a 3.95 GPA.