EAGLE, Idaho - Nevada Men's and Women's Cross Country wrapped up action at the 2023 Mountain West Cross Country Championships at Eagle Island State Park in Eagle, Idaho, Friday. The Wolf Pack men finished seventh, while the women took eighth.

In the women's standings, the Pack finished two places ahead of UNLV, earning Nevada three Silver State Series points.

Both the men's and women's Wolf Pack squads are set to return all five scorers from Friday's meet in 2024.

"Our men had a solid effort but not quite what we'd hoped for. We have an opportunity at the NCAA Regional to put together a better race. The women had an excellent team race, especially with Ashley Boone and Hannah Lee, Kylee Denver and Thalia Arrate. They had exceptional races for themselves and it made all the difference," said head coach Kirk Elias. "In my projections I had us behind Fresno State and a couple points behind UNLV, and we finished 40 pts ahead of Fresno so we did really well for who we are as a team. I'm excited about the development and willingness to train hard and compete like top-notch athletes."

Senior Daniel Sayo had the Pack's highest finish of the day. The Narok, Kenya, native ran in the top half of the field throughout the eight-kilometer course, and was in 29th at the halfway point. Sayo pushed over the final 4.5 kilometers, finishing the race in a time of 24:09.2 and in 22nd place, the highest finish by a male Wolf Pack runner at the Mountain West Championships since the program resumed in 2019. Sayo's placement eclipses Jared Marchegger's 26th-place finish at the 2021 conference meet.

Junior Claire Nelson led the Wolf Pack contingent throughout the women's race, working her way into the top 40 by the four-kilometer mark. Nelson would hold her spot inside the top 40 over the final two kilometers, coming in 37th in a time of 21:22.8.

Ashley Boone put on a strong rally over the final two-thirds of the course. The Bend, Ore., native was in 64th at the 2.3-kilometer mark, but kicked her way into the top 60 with two kilometers remaining, and climbed to 54th at the finish line, crossing in a time of 22:11.4.

Hannah Lee fought her way up the standings throughout the race, climbing 21 spots from the checkpoint at the first mile to the finish. Lee picked up six spots over the final kilometer and a half, finishing 64th in 22:38.0. Kylee Denver, who finished one place back of Lee, in 65th in a time of 22:40.0, also gained 20 places over the final three-plus kilometers. Sitting in 85th at the 2.3 kilometer split, Denver rallied to 70th with two kilometers to go before gaining five more places by the finish. Thalia Arrate was another Wolf Pack runner who gained a significant amount of ground as the race played out, climbing from 89th at the first mile to 71st at the finish, clocking a final time of 22:50.5.

Jasper Fievet (22:34.3 - 61st), Elizabeth Shaw (24:12.4 - 89th), and Abigail Clarke (24:49.3 - 94th) rounded out the Wolf Pack women's outing.

Senior Daniel Sayo had the Pack's highest finish of the day. The Narok, Kenya, native ran in the top half of the field throughout the eight-kilometer course, and was in 29th at the halfway point. Sayo pushed over the final 4.5 kilometers, finishing the race in a time of 24:09.2 and in 22nd place, the highest finish by a male Wolf Pack runner at the Mountain West Championships.

Tryon Jardin turned in a top-50 finish, coming in at 24:47.7, followed by Zander Simone (25:10.5) in 54th and Jaedyn Chase (25:25.6) in 57th. Rounding out the Nevada contingent were Sergio Mazon (26:04.0 - 62nd), Pierce Simpkins (26:11.1 - 63rd), Jackson Hammons (26:15.2 - 64th), Dillon Walker (26:16.2 - 65th), and Alfonso Parsare (27:09.3 - 69th).

Colorado State claimed the women's title, with the Rams' Sarah Carter taking the individual title in 19:48.5. On the men's side, New Mexico claimed the top-three finishers to win the team title, with the Lobos' Habtom Samuel winning the race in 22:57.7.

Women's Standings
1. Colorado State - 39
2. Boise State - 65
3. Air Force - 87
4. New Mexico - 111
5. Utah State - 113
6. Wyoming - 115
7. San Diego State - 206
8. Nevada - 238
9. Fresno State - 278
10. UNLV - 285
11. San José State - 333

Nevada Results
37. Claire Nelson - 21:22.8
54. Ashley Boone - 22:11.4
61. Jasper Fievet - 22:34.3
64. Hannah Lee - 22:38.0
65. Kylee Denver - 22:40.0
71. Thalia Arrate - 22:50.5
89. Elizabeth Shaw - 24:12.4
94. Abigail Clarke - 24:49.3

Men's Standings
1. New Mexico - 34
2. Air Force - 36
3. Boise State - 75
4. Wyoming - 96
5. Utah State - 130
6. Colorado State - 141
7. Nevada - 199
8. San José State - 256
9. Fresno State - 293

Nevada Results
22. Daniel Sayo - 24:09.2
46. Tryon Jardin - 24:47.7
54. Zander Simone - 25:10.0
57. Jaedyn Chase - 25:25.6
62. Sergio Mazon - 26:04.0
63. Pierce Simpkins - 26:11.1
64. Jackson Hammons - 26:15.2
65. Dillon Walker - 26:16.2
69. Alfonso Parsare - 27:09.3