LAS CRUCES, N.M.-- The New Mexico State women’s cross country team’s dynamic is strong, the Aggies are consistently improving and have bought into the program’s philosophy.
Through hard work and dedication, NMSU is ready to use its solid foundation to put its stamp on the WAC and the timing could not be more perfect. NMSU is hosting the 2008 WAC Championship, Saturday, Nov. 1, at the NMSU Golf Course.
Assistant coaches Paul Harkins and Meaghan Gregory have agreed that hosting the WAC Championships is going to be a great opportunity for the Aggies.
“It’s great to have it on our home course, it gives us a home course advantage, so to speak,” Gregory said. “We are the only team in the WAC that has run our course and we know what to expect.”
Harkins also added that he is truly amazed at the team’s level of improvement over the course of the season.
On average, the Aggies’ top five runners have cut 2:27 off the overall team time per race, with their most significant improvement at the Lori Fitzgerald, when the Aggies ran 9:40 faster this season than last.
“We are proud and we couldn’t ask for more at this point,” Harkins said. “However, there is always room for improvement.”
Both Harkins and Gregory chalk up the level of improvement they have witnessed to one of the fundamental aspects of their philosophy, which is the importance of the team chemistry.
“A huge factor is the team dynamic. They have solidified their relationship and I also think success helps with team dynamic,” Gregory said. “They have come together as a group and I believe that as one person upped the ante, than the rest has followed suit. There is a friendly competitiveness.”
“This year their mind set and relationships have grown and matured,” Harkins added. “They are working harder than they ever have before and doing so in a really positive environment. You have to have a positive environment in order to be successful.”
At every race the women have drastically improved.
NMSU kicked off the season recording three top 10 performances at the Lobo Invitational with a third-place performance from junior Ingrid Flores. Last season, NMSU only had a pair of Aggies finish in the top 12.
Flores, who has earned a pair of back-to-back WAC player of the Week honors erased almost two minutes off her time from the previous season.
“Flores has certainly impressed us,” Harkins said. “She definitely has a lot of potential and has worked really hard this past summer, she along with the others understand the vision of the program.”
At the second competition of the season, the Lori Fitzgerald Invitational, in Santa Teresa, N.M., the Crimson and White dominated. The Aggies had their top five runners finish with the top 11 slots. A year ago, Gutierrez led NMSU to a solid third-place finish, however only squeezed a single other runner within the top 10.
“Brandi is tough as nails and throw in hard work you will have a star,” Harkins said. “Everyone on the team is working harder than every.”
The Aggies did repeat their superiority at the Kachina Classic this season, placing four in the top 10, which is the same feat they showed the season before.
As the season gradually progressed so did the confidence and it was noticed as NMSU took its 2007 bronze medal and exchanged it for a gold one in 2008 at the Arizona State Invitational. The Aggies scored a near perfect, 16 points, as five Aggies finished within the top 10 places, in less than a minute difference.
However, at the harriers’ final tune-up of the season, the Santa Clara Invitational, NMSU really displayed its worth as the Aggies placed fifth overall, beating four WAC schools in the process. The lone school that did place higher than the Aggies was Nevada, however NMSU did have both the number two and three runners finish before Nevada’s second runner.
The Crimson and White recorded a five-spot improvement at this meet from 2008 as NMSU tallied a 10-place finish in 2007.
“Our overall goal is to put NMSU on the national map and I think we are on our way,” Gregory added. “However our biggest challenge is yet to come.”
Even though it is exciting for NMSU to go head-to-head with the entire WAC conference, the coaches do expect a quality performance from the crew.
“We are going to bring our ‘A’ game and do the best we can,” Gregory said. “That is all we are going to ask for, we can’t control what anyone else in the WAC does, only ourselves.”
The Aggies are enthusiastic to display the monumental strides they have taken this season and get the opportunity to showcase the talent as they host the conference championships for the first time since joining the WAC. The women’s race kicks off at 10:00 a.m.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
