ENMU opens season at Cloudcroft

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico University cross country teams will get an early test today when they open the season in a triangular meet against Texas Tech and Wayland Baptist.

Tech will serve as the host of the meet, scheduled to be run in Cloudcroft.

“It’ll be a nice deal, I think,” ENMU coach Eric Boll said. “It’ll be a chance for us to run in the altitude a little bit.”

Boll said the men’s team should get a boost from junior Gilbert Manzanares, a junior college transfer who could be the team’s top runner. Sophomore Logan Robertson, the Greyhounds No. 2 runner last year, is challenging for the lead role this year, Boll said.

Right behind them are seniors Kennedy Baiywo and Mike Thomas.

The top runner for the women is junior Jerri Martin, who is Zias’ top returning runner. Behind her are senior Monica Jasso, redshirt freshman Jackie Cervantes and freshman Megan Bryant.

“The men are going to be a little more talented than the women,” Boll said. “If we can get a couple of our guys to step up, we’re going to be a lot better off.”

ENMU has only one meet on the schedule between Sept. 6 and Oct. 14, and Boll said he is still looking to add dates to the schedule.

ENMU schedule

August

29 — Texas Tech, Wayland Baptist at Cloudcroft, 4 p.m.

September

6 — at ACU Classic, 10 a.m.; 19 — at Texas Tech Jackrabbit Open, 5:30 p.m.

October

14 — at ASU Classic, 4 p.m.; 25 — LSC championships at Kingsville, Texas, 8:30 a.m.

All times Mountai