LARAMIE, Wyo. –Nevada men's and women's cross country finished seventh overall at the Mountain West Championships at the Jacoby Golf Course. The women finished above the UNLV Rebels, earning the Pack three points in the Silver State Series.
 
Number two nationally ranked New Mexico earned the women's individual and team title, their 15^th consecutive championship, while for the men, number five nationally ranked Air Force claimed the men's team title, sweeping the top three spots individually in the 8K. Host team Wyoming placed fourth for both the men's and women's squads.
 
On a breezy 55 degrees day, six nationally ranked women's teams and three nationally ranked men's teams battled for the Mountain West title. With Wyoming hosting the conference championships for the first time since 2010, Nevada fought through 2,695 feet of greater elevation than their comfort zone of Reno.
 
With a gradual hill set-up, Nevada used the course's design and kept control to start the race. The Pack executed the game plan of sweeping turns and pushing during long stretches in front of a spectator-friendly crowd, combining for five top 40 finishes among the Pack's men and women.
 
"It was a bit of a rough day for both squads," says Coach Elias. "A few individuals had good races. Clarke, Middleton, and Fievet ran well on the women's side. Among the men, Simone and Baligad had darn good efforts. Sayo, Sjolund, and Marchegger were warriors as usual."
 
Emily Clarke and Daniel Sayo lead their respective squads with the highest individual finishes in their races. Placing 21^st, Clarke ran in a time of 20:38.0, dropping four seconds from her all-time best performance from the Bronco Invitational, held just two weeks ago. Sayo finished in a time of 24:50.7, placing 35^th, while seniors Adam Sjolund and Jared Marchegger finished just behind in 36^th and 37^th place, in 24:51 and 24:53 respectively.
 
On the women's side, junior Marije Hijman saw the second highest finish in 39^th place, with a time of 21:10. Paige Penrose and Marena Middleton would then finish back-to-back in 62^nd and 63^rd, finishing in 22:21 and 22:23. Jasper Fievet and Claire Nelson would also finish in back-to-back style, in 68^th with a time of 23:10, and 69^th in 23:27.
 
Sticking together to round out the women, the final three women's time would include sophomores Madelyn Shipman, Alison Graf, and Elizabeth Shaw finished in 71^st, 72^nd, and 73^rd in 23:49, 23:54, and 24:18.
 
With his 49^th place finish, Zander Simone would earn the next highest finish for the men in 25:19. Not far behind were sophomore Soma Baligad who placed 56^th in a time of 25:73, and seniors Andrew Riberio , Carson Leavitt, and Celime Garcia, who all finished within seconds of each other in 57^th with a 25:41, 58^th in 25:48, and 60^th in a time of 25:55.
 
The final two men's times include Alex Mendoza, running in a 26:38, finishing in 63^rd and Tryon Jardin in 66^th, with a 27:04.
 
The Pack will look towards postseason, traveling next to the NCAA Regional Championships on Friday, November 11.
 
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Mountain West Cross Country Championships Results
 
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Team

1. New Mexico, 24
2. Colorado State, 61
3. Utah State, 99
4. Wyoming, 110
5. Boise State, 112
6. Air Force, 135
7. Nevada, 199
8. UNLV, 264
9. Fresno State, 273
10. San Diego State, 326
11. San Jose State, 330

 
Individual
      21. Emily Clarke, 20:34
      39. Marije Hijman, 21:10
      62. Paige Penrose, 22:21   
      63. Marena Middleton, 22:23
      68. Jasper Fievet, 23:10
      69. Claire Nelson, 23:27
      71. Madelyn Shipman, 23:49
      72. Alison Graf, 23:54
      73. Elizabeth Shaw, 24:18
 
MEN'S RESULTS
Team

1. Air Force, 20
2. Colorado State, 47
3. Utah State, 74
4. Wyoming, 122
5. Boise State, 139
6. New Mexico, 140
7. Nevada, 194
8. San Jose State, 268
9. Fresno State, 278

 
Individual
    35. Daniel Sayo, 24:50
    36. Adam Sjolund, 24:51
    37. Jared Marchegger, 24:53
    49. Zander Simone, 25:19
    56. Soma Baligad, 25:33
    57. Andrew Riberio, 25:41
    58. Carson Leavitt, 25:48
    60. Celime Garcia, 25:55
    63. Alex Mendoza, 26:38
    66. Tryon Jardin, 27:04