Lobos' Samuel takes 2nd at NCAA Cross Country Championships
Nov. 18—University of New Mexico freshman Habtom Samuel finished second on Saturday in the men's race at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Samuel covered a hilly, 10-kilometer course in 28 minutes, 40.7 seconds, exactly three seconds behind winner Graham Blanks of Harvard.
UNM finished 18th as a team, led by Samuel and fellow freshman Evans Kiplagat (33rd overall but 28th for team scoring purposes in 29:41.8).
Saturday's was the UNM men's first appearance at nationals since 2010.
Oklahoma State won the team competition with a remarkable total of 49 points, all five of the Cowboys' team scorers finishing in the top 15. Northern Arizona, which entered the race seeded No. 1, finished second with a total of 71.
In the women's race, UNM's Nicola Jansen finished 36th with a 6K time of 20:05.7. Jansen was the Lobos' only competitor in the women's competition.
In the women's team competition, North Carolina State edged NAU by a single point, 123-124, for the Wolfpack's third straight consecutive title.
Florida's Parker Valby won the individual title in 18:55.2. Former Lobo Gracelyn Larkin finished 13th in 19:35.1 and was NAU's top finisher.
In the men's race, Blanks and Samuel moved ahead of the pack at approximately the 9,000-meter mark. With some 700 meters to go, Blanks pulled away from Samuel and finished well in front.
DIVISION II: In Joplin, Missouri, New Mexico Highlands' Andrew Amor finished in fifth place at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.
Amor ran a time of 429:18, some four seconds behind winner William Amponsah of West Texas A&M.
The Cowboys placed 18th as a team.
