Lobos Run to Top of Cross Country Rankings With Nuttycombe Win
In a race that felt like a preview of the national championship, the University of New Mexico men's cross country team delivered a statement victory at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday. The Lobos, newly ranked No. 1 in the USTFCCCA poll, scored 59 points to beat 20 other ranked teams, including nine in the top 15.
UNM coach Darren Gauson said the meet was a chance to size up the competition ahead of November's national title race.
“We wanted to see how good Iowa State, BYU and Colorado are,” Gauson said. “Six weeks till nationals, it looks like it's us and Colorado are the two best teams in the country.”
Colorado took the individual title with freshman Meshack Kipruto, but the Lobos beat the Buffaloes by 34 points as a team. UNM freshman Pasanjo Kitongo finished second, just 0.8 seconds behind Kipruto, in a tight 8K race. Kitongo, named National Athlete of the Week, crossed in 22:30.8, one of four runners to beat the course record set last year by UNM alum Habtom Samuel.
Evans Kiplagat took seventh, Collins Kiprotich eighth, Vincent Chirchir 20th, and Joshua Abraham 22nd to round out the scoring five. The Lobos' top five finished within 37.3 seconds of each other, a display of depth that bodes well for the postseason.
What does the Nuttycombe win mean for the Lobos' national title hopes?
Gauson called the win a “privilege” but made clear the team's focus is on the bigger prize.
“They'd trade getting 20th today so we could win the national championship,” Gauson said.
The Lobos won Nuttycombe last season for the first time and now have back-to-back titles. With a three-week break before the Mountain West Championships on Oct. 30 in Reno, Nevada, the team will use the time to sharpen its fitness and prepare for the NCAA Championships.
How did the UNM women's team perform at Nuttycombe?
The women's team finished fourth with 157 points, led by Mercy Kirarei in 19:21.8 for the 6K. Kirarei led through the first 4K but was passed late by Florida's Judy Chepkoech and Iowa State's Betty Kipkore.
Pamela Kosgei ran much of the race with only one shoe after losing one early, still finishing 13th in 19:35.3. Los Alamos graduate Christina Nisoli placed 31st, with Li-Mari Dekker and Jasmine Wood completing the scoring five.
The women raced without national champion Marion Jepgnetich, who was held out. Gauson said the team will be a podium contender at nationals when it is at full strength.
Who are the Lobos' biggest rivals for the national title?
Gauson identified Colorado as the main threat on the men's side, with Iowa State and BYU also in the mix. The Buffaloes' Kipruto is a strong individual contender, but UNM's pack running gives it an edge in team scoring.
On the women's side, Iowa State and Florida look strong, but the Lobos believe they can compete with a full lineup.
What's next for the Lobos cross country teams?
The Lobos will compete at the Mountain West Championships on Oct. 30 in Reno, Nevada. Gauson said the team won't overlook the conference meet, but the ultimate goal is a national championship.
“You can't take the conference lightly, but our goal's the national championship,” Gauson said. “No one remembers who won Nuttycombe.”
For Iowa fans, the results offer a glimpse of the competition their own teams will face in the postseason. Iowa State's women placed high, and the Cyclones' men were also in the field, making this a useful benchmark for what to expect in November.