STILLWATER, Okla. – No. 2 New Mexico closed in dominant fashion to win the men’s team title at the Cowboy Jamboree on Saturday, with Pasanjo Kitonga taking the individual crown in his cross country debut to lead four Lobos among the first six finishers.
On the women’s side, No. 2 UNM finished third with 70 points behind No. 3 BYU and No. 15 Oklahoma State, led by a fourth-place finish from Mercy Kirarei.
The UNM men made a statement with a team victory over preseason No. 1 and defending national team champions Oklahoma State thanks to a miniscule 28-point team score, outpacing the Cowboys by 16 points en route to their first team Jamboree title.
|
Men's Team |
Scoring |
Total Points |
Women's Team |
Scoring |
Total Points |
|
#2 New Mexico |
1-3-5-6-13-(22)-(26) |
28 |
#3 BYU |
3-5-7-8-9-(10)-(12) |
32 |
|
#1 Oklahoma State |
2-4-7-14-17-(19)-(29) |
44 |
#15 Oklahoma State |
1-2-14-21-26-(37)-(41) |
64 |
|
(D-II) #3 Adams State |
12-18-24-27-31-(37)-(40) |
112 |
#2 New Mexico |
4-13-15-16-22-(34)-(35) |
70 |
|
Stephen F. Austin |
20-23-25-28-38-(48)-(66) |
134 |
SMU |
6-20-29-30-39-(42)-(47) |
124 |
|
#21 Tulsa |
16-21-32-33-39-(45)-(46) |
141 |
Oklahoma |
11-17-27-38-65-(79) |
158 |
|
#5 Oregon |
8-15-36-42-61 |
162 |
(D-II) #1 Adams State |
24-25-32-40-52-(60)-(61) |
173 |
|
TCU |
30-35-49-53-58-(60)-(73) |
225 |
Stephen F. Austin |
19-23-45-46-50-(68)-(70) |
183 |
|
Oral Roberts |
9-34-57-72-77-(99)-(101) |
249 |
New Mexico State |
18-48-53-55-57-(76)-(87) |
231 |
Kitonga crossed first in the men’s 8K in 23:24.4, with Collins Kiprotich close behind in third at 23:36.0. Evans Kiplagat finished fifth in 23:45.2 and Joshua Abraham followed in sixth at 23:46.5, giving the Lobos four runners inside the top six. Vincent Chirchir completed UNM’s scoring five in 14th overall in 24:02.2 as the Lobos finished with 28 points. New Mexico’s top five averaged 23:42.9 with just 37.8 seconds separating its first and fifth finishers.
The Lobos made their biggest move over the final kilometer after sitting second with 63 points at the 7K split. UNM’s scoring positions improved from 2-5-10-22-24 at 7K to 1-3-5-6-13 at the finish, shaving 35 points off the Lobos’ team total to move into first and hold on the rest of the way.
Behind the scoring five, Lukas Ehrle finished 23rd in 24:29.0, followed by Jayden Hernandez in 27th (24:36.7) and Lukas Kiprop in 28th (24:39.7). Matthew Giardina crossed 41st in 24:56.8, with Rhys Crawford rounding out UNM’s finishers in 119th at 26:22.6.
In the women’s 6K, Kirarei paced the Lobos with a fourth-place finish in 19:51.1, the first of five UNM scorers to finish among the top 26. Christina Nisoli followed in 14th in 20:31.0, with Li-Mari Dekker 16th in 20:42.3 and Jasmine Wood 17th in 20:45.8. Rilyn Stevens rounded out the scoring five in 26th at 20:58.6. New Mexico’s top five averaged 20:33.8 with a 1:07.5 spread.
The Lobos were second in the women’s team standings through the 3K split before Oklahoma State moved ahead at 4K. UNM finished with 70 points, six behind the Cowgirls’ 64 and 38 behind BYU’s winning total of 32.
Elia Ton-That finished 40th in 21:30.9, followed by Noel Barlette in 42nd (21:34.5), Kylie Feeney in 47th (21:38.4) and Millie McClelland-Brooks in 53rd (21:55.3). Anya Belisle was 63rd in 22:08.2, with Faith Ngetich 91st (23:01.4), Millie Robinson 98th (23:11.2) and Luca De Waal 110th (23:33.8) rounding out New Mexico’s 13 women’s finishers.
|
Men's UNM Finishers |
Women's UNM Finishers |
|
1. Pasanjo Kitonga – 23:24.4 |
4. Mercy Kirarei – 19:51.1 |
|
3. Collins Kiprotich – 23:36.0 |
14. Tina Nisoli – 20:31.0 |
|
5. Evans Kiplagat – 23:45.2 |
16. Li-Mari Dekker – 20:42.3 |
|
6. Joshua Abraham – 23:46.5 |
17. Jasmine Wood – 20:45.8 |
|
14. Vincent Chirchir – 24:02.2 |
26. Rilyn Stevens – 20:58.6 |
|
23. Lukas Ehrle – 24:29.0 |
40. Elia Ton-That – 21:30.9 |
|
27. Jayden Hernandez – 24:36.7 |
42. Noel Barlette – 21:34.5 |
|
28. Lukas Kiprop – 24:39.7 |
47. Kylie Feeney – 21:38.4 |
|
41. Matthew Giardina – 24:56.8 |
53. Millie McClelland-Brooks – 21:52.3 |
|
119. Rhys Crawford – 26:22.6 |
57. Isabelle Bloker – 21:55.3 |
|
63. Anya Belisle – 22:08.2 |
|
|
91. Faith Ngetich – 23:01.4 |
|
|
97. Millie Robinson – 23:11.2 |
|
|
110. Luca De Waal – 23:33.8 |