PORTALES, N.M. – The Eastern New Mexico cross country teams begins the 2021 season at the Texas Tech Open on Saturday, September 4 in Lubbock, Texas. The men's program will start with a 5k run beginning at 8:00 a.m. local time (7:00 MST), with the women's program racing in four-mile course starting at 8:40 a.m. local time (7:40 MST).

2021 PRESEASON STORY LINES
The Greyhounds return to the course after missing out on the 2020 season due to COVID-19 restrictions. The women's program finished third in the 2019 Lone Star Conference (LSC) Cross Country Championship, earning a place in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship. Returning members include standouts Aminata Kenyawani and Neri Getraide. Kenyawani was named LSC Newcomer of the Year in 2019 following a sixth-place finish at the 2019 LSC Cross Country Championship. Getraide also put in a season-best performance with a top-20 finish at the conference championships. The men's program will see seven new members make their collegiate debut on the cross country course, with Jon Fuentes being the only returner from the 2019 roster.
 
THE COURSE
The Greyhounds will be running at the Chaparral Ridge Cross Country Course on the campus of Lubbock Christian University. Chaparral Ridge is a fully dedicated course for the Chaparrals and Lady Chaps cross country programs.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Eastern New Mexico is one of 12 institutions competing at the Texas Tech Open. The 12 schools are spread across NCAA Division I and Division II, along with NJCAA schools. The Greyhounds will be representing the LSC alongside Angelo State, Lubbock Christian, UT Permian Basin, and West Texas A&M on race day. Each race (Men's 5K and Women's 4-Mile) is expected to have near 100 entries.