STILLWATER, Okla. -- Junior Sarah Gonzales led the University of New Mexico women's cross country team to a solid eighth place finish (266 points) in a field of 16 teams at the 66th annual Cowboy Jamboree on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, freshman Brandon Vigil paced a foursome of non-scoring runners from the men's team as the remainder of the the Lobos' 27th-ranked squad rested in preparation for the NCAA pre-national meet on Oct. 19.

Gonzales led the team for the second-straight meet after being sidelined by an illness for the first two races of the year. The Albuquerque native finished 37th in the 5,000-meter race, completing the course in 18:59. Junior Amanda Swann placed 56th (19:29) to lead a tight pack of four Lobo scoring runners, including freshmen Janice Tosa (63rd - 19:37) and Karina Hill-Hurtado (68th - 19:40), and sophomore Racquel Ricci (75th - 19:46). Freshman Timmie Murphy and sophomore Vanessa Funston rounded out the Lobos' top-seven in 78th and 94th place, respectively.

Meanwhile, Vigil enjoyed a strong performance, finishing 64th with a time of 25:59 on the 8K course. Junior Leighton Katsuda and sophomore Nate Clem followed in 99th and 115th, respectively, while sophomore Joachin Marjon was 172nd in his second competition of the season.

UNM's men and women return to full strength in two weeks when they take on the nation's best at the NCAA pre-nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. One of the most important meets of the year, the pre-nationals help determine the at-large teams and individuals that will comprise the 2002 NCAA Championships, also held in Terre Haute on Nov. 25.A

Lobos Track & Field

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