Juan Ortega Class: Senior Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M. High School: Rio Grande HS Height: 5-6 Birthdate: 11/07/1985 Experience: 3L

NEW MEXICO:

Veteran leader of the men's team who has developed into one of the Lobos' top long distance threats over the past three years...has improved every year in training and is coming off his most successful cross country and track seasons...coaches are counting on him elevate his performance and help guide a young, inexperienced squad this fall...has redshirt years available in cross country and outdoor track...

2005-06:

(outdoor) Led the team in the 10,000 and was the No. 2 runner in the 5K and 1,500...clocked a time of 30:55.32 in his first career 10K at the Mt. SAC Relays, which was ranked 5th in the MWC...finished sixth in the event at the MWC Championship meet...season-best time of 15:22.99 in the 5,000m at UC-San Diego...raced eight times... (indoor) Redshirt season... (cross country) Enjoyed a breakthrough season, scoring in all five meets and notching a pair of top-25 finishes...was the team's No. 2 runner at the MWC Championships, where he placed 23rd...was 39th (32:14.7) at the NCAA Mountain Region meet, his best finish in the 10K race...career-best 8K time of 24:36.59 in a 20th place finish at Auburn...

2004-05:

(outdoor) Appeared in three meets...notched his first career victory in the 5,000 at UTEP...top 800 time of 1:56.95, run in Albuquerque, ranked fourth on the team... (indoor) Competed 7 times during the winter...finished among the top-5 in four of his first five races...finished second in the 3K at Air Force, third in the 3K and fifth in the mile at Texas Tech, and was the runner-up in the 3,000 at Northern Arizona...ran the 3,000 (25th) and 5K (16th) at the conference meet...clocked the team's No. 5 3K time (8:49.24) at Texas Tech... (cross-country) Ran in three meets, finishing among the Lobos' top-7 at New Mexico State and the MWC Championships...

2003-04:

(outdoor) Appeared at three meets, competing in the 1,500 and 5,000...notched a pair of third place finishes in each event at NMSU... (indoor) Made his collegiate track debut at Texas Tech...placed fifth in the 3,000 in his lone race of the winter... (cross country) Competed in all six meets, scoring four times, including the final three races of the year...top finish of 10th (pre-conference meet) and top 8K time of 26:02 (Canyon West Classic) both came in Lobo victories...Academic All-MWC...

HIGH SCHOOL:

Four-year letterwinner in cross country and track at Albuquerque Rio Grande High School...three-year individual qualifier for the state cross country meet after finishing in the top ten at his district meet...was the state runner-up in the mile as a senior...finished his prep career with RGHS records in the mile (4:26) and two-mile runs (9:45)...district champion in both events...was invited to compete at the elite Great Southwest track meet...placed sixth in the 5,000m at the Junior Olympic Nationals...was named Rio Grande Athlete of the Year as a senior...student body president who graduated in the top 10 percent of his class...Teenager of the Year nominee...

PERSONAL:

Born on Nov. 7, 1985, in Albuquerque, N.M....age is 20...son of Raphael and Hilda Ortega...has five brothers and sisters: Brenda (23), Elsa (20), Mayra (17), Jesse (11) and Jessica (4)...double major in Criminology and Spanish...would like to eventually go to law school to pursue his doctorate.