Heat gets best of Hounds

ABILENE, Texas — Running in abnormal heat, Eastern New Mexico University didn’t qualify anyone for the NCAA Division II national cross country meet in Saturday’s South Central Regional, hosted by Abilene Christian.

Kenyan freshman Felix Boit, ENMU’s top hope of qualifying, was in 12th place with about 100 meters left in the 10-kilometer men’s race when he collapsed for the third time. He struggled to a 31st-place finish in a time of 32 minutes, 12.45 seconds.

Sophomore Jason Garcia passed Boit late and had the team’s best finish — 20th in 34:39.75.

ENMU finished eighth in the men’s teams standings and 16th in women’s competition. Sophomore Joyce Doan was the Zias’ top runner, placing 41st in 25:05.40.

ENMU coach Joel McMullen said the temperature was 87 degrees with considerable humidity, and it affected many runners.

“Felix was one of about 12 guys that collapsed on that course,” he said. “I wasn’t sure he was going to get up.

“Jason ran a hell of a race. He stayed within shot of Felix. Last year I think he finished around 42nd, so he improved a lot.”

The ENMU women ran without their top runner, Stacy Salazar, who was hobbled by shin splints. McMullen said it was a learning experience for his young squad.

“Joyce had a great, great race,” he said. “We wanted to get her at a 6:15 or 6:20 (per-mile) pace, and she held that most of the way.

“The girls ran hard, but they struggled with the heat more than I thought they would.”

Host Abilene Christian took the top three places and five of the top eight to win the men’s team title with 21 points, while East Central qualified second with 63 points.

Central Missouri State outlasted Abilene Christian 73-75 to take the women’s team title.

The nationals are scheduled for Nov. 19 in Pomona, Calif.

South Central Regional

At Abilene, Texas

Note: Top two teams plus top two individuals not on those teams qualify for the NCAA Div. II nationals Nov. 19 at Pomona, Calif.

Men (10K, 92 runners)

Team standings: 1. Abilene Christian 21; 2. East Central 63; 3. Central Missouri State 102; 4. Truman State 128; 5. Angelo State 143; 6. Missouri Southern 167; 7. Northwest Missouri State 170; 8. Eastern New Mexico 186; 9. Pittsbur State 208; 10. Texas A&M-Commerce 245; 11. Western New Mexico 254; 12. Southwest Baptist 304; 13. Dallas Baptist 372; 14. Montana State-Billings 387; 15. Cameron 439; NS. Incarnate Word.

Individual winner: Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian 31:13.90.

Other individual qualifiers: 4. Jarod Wall, Central Missouri State 31:58.40; 9. Eli Klimek, Truman State 33:35.85.

ENMU results: 20. Jason Garcia 34:39.75; 31. Felix Boit 35:12.45; 36. Michael Thomas 35:27.10; 40. Orlando Sanchez 35:36.75; 60. Derek Henio 37:05.40; 67. Brent Almand 37:20.45; 79. Gillie Lopez 39:03.15.

Women (6K, 127 runners)

Team standings: 1. Central Missouri State 73; 2. Abilene Christian 75; 3. West Texas A&M 149; 4. Angelo State 152; 5. Pittsburg State 166; 6. Truman State 168; 7. Central Oklahoma 204; 8. Missouri Southern 205; 9. Southwest Baptist 236; 10. Western New Mexico 261; 11. Dallas Baptist 288; 12. Northwest Missouri State 302; 13. Montana State-Billings 331; 14. Midwestern State 335; 15. East Central 339; 16. Eastern New Mexico 377; 17. St. Mary’s 388; 18. Southwestern Oklahoma 401; NS. Emporia State, Incarnate Word, Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce.

Individual winner: Trina Cox, Abilene Christian 21:49.10.

Other individual qualifiers: 4. Rachel Ingram, Southwestern Oklahoma 22:59.80; 5. Melina Garcia, Angelo State 23:06.95.

ENMU results: 41. Joyce Doan 25:05.40; 90. Krista Monaghan 27:30.25; 91. Laura Shorty 27:32.10; 94. Melissa Clark 27:43.80; 97. Miranda Vaca 27:59.80; 100. Lynnae Chavez 28:07.95; 106. Monica Jasso 28:39.90.

Volleyball — Senior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt compiled team highs of 15 kills and 12 digs Saturday to lift Lone Star Conference South Division champion Abilene Christian past Eastern New Mexico University 30-20, 30-24, 30-20 in the regular-season finale for both squads at Greyhound Arena.

Abilene Christian (27-3, 10-0 South) extended its winning streak to 27 after an 0-3 start. The Wildcats clinched home court in the LSC postseason tournament on Thursday night when they beat West Texas A&M in five games to lock up the division title.

Amanda Slate and Ashley Motola added 10 kills each for Abilene Christian, with Slate also compiling three block solos and three block assists.

The Zias (8-19, 3-7) were led by senior middle blocker Lindsay Schiely with nine kills.

Lone Star Conference South

Abilene Christian 3, ENMU 0

Abilene Christian 30 30 30

ENMU 20 24 20

Individual statistics

Kills — Abilene Christian, Michelle Bernhardt 15, Ashlee Motola 10, Amanda Slate 10. Eastern New Mexico, Lindsay Schiely 9, Kristi Britain 8. Block solos — Abilene Christian, Slate 3. Eastern New Mexico, none. Block assists — Abilene Christian, Slate 3, Motola 2, three tied with 1. Eastern New Mexico, Grace George 5, Britain 4, Schiely 34, Amber Davis 2, Marcie LeGrand 1, Rhea Wortman 1. Digs — Abilene Christian, Bernhardt 12, Jessica Reyna 8. Eastern New Mexico, Vanessa Wilcox 10, Britain 6, Wortman 6. Aces — Abilene Christian, Slate 4, three tied with 1. Eastern New Mexico, Kathryn McCannell 1, Wortman 1. Assists — Abilene Christian, Lindsey Martin 40. Eastern New Mexico, McCannell 15, Kara Killian 11. Records — Abilene Christian 27-3 (10-0), Eastern New Mexico 8-19 (3-7). T — 1:20. A — 434.

Men’s soccer — At Canyon, Texas, West Texas A&M ended ENMU’s season with a 9-1 Southwest Soccer Conference trouncing of the Greyhounds.

Josh Fender scored a hat trick for the Buffaloes (11-8, 10-4 SSC), while Raul Rodriguez added a pair of goals. Rob Humphrey scored the only goal for ENMU (4-15-1, 2-12-0) on a penalty kick in the 58th minute.

The teams were scoreless for 16 minutes before a goal by Itamar Keinan kicked off a run of five WT goals before halftime.

Southwest Soccer Conference

West Texas A&M 9, ENMU 1

ENMU 0 1 — 1

West Texas A&M 5 4 — 9

Scoring summary

First half

WT — Itamar Keinan (Josh Fender), 16:15

WT — Kenneth Christensen, 21:08

WT — Fender, 38:20

WT — Raul Rodriguez (Tomer Otor), 43:06

WT — Fender (Jesse Purvis), 44:18

Second half

WT — Ivan Vargas, 46:08

ENM — Rob Humphrey, 57:07

WT — Rodriguez (Otor), 63:40

WT — Tom Nutter, 73:34

WT — Fencer (Nutter), 74:33

Shots on goal — Eastern New Mexico 3, West Texas A&M 18. Corner kicks — Eastern New Mexico 2, West Texas A&M 11. Saves — Eastern New Mexico 9 (Leif Craddock 9), West Texas A&M 2 (Shawn Carr 2). Fouls — Eastern New Mexico 19, West Texas A&M 9. Yellow cards — Eastern New Mexico 5 (Ryan Atkinson, Rhen Salas, Donnell Jackson, Marcus Leyva, Francisco Roman), West Texas A&M 2 (Brett Woolverton, Nutter). Records — Eastern New Mexico 4-15-1 (2-12-0), West Texas A&M 11-8-0 (10-4-0). A — 109.