PUEBLO, Colo. – For the first time since 2021, Eastern New Mexico women's cross country competed at the NCAA DII south central regional championships. The 26-team meet featured 175 runners from schools in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and Lone Star Conference (LSC). ENMU finished in 26th overall.
"We have grown so much as a program and every Greyhound has something be proud of from their accomplishments this season," said assistant cross country coach Keyanah Browning. "It's great to see the green and silver represented at a meet like this."
Five runners competed for Eastern New Mexico on a sunny, but cool, Saturday morning at the Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colo.
The top finisher for ENMU was Lone Star Conference freshman of the year,
Chama El Hadiri. The Morocco native completed the race in 58th with a time of 22:40.5.
The 6k course featured three loops around the back nine at the semi-hilly golf course. The start of the race was tight with 26 programs jam packed in the mix. Afterwards, the runners went on a straightaway path before turning 180-degrees back past a few holes featuring an uphill climb and various up-and-downs. Participants had a difficult finish with several turns before meeting the 200-meter path forward to the finish line.
Elizabeth Lujan-Towles almost completed the race in personal record fashion as she came just four seconds shy of that time. Her 25:12.7 mark gave her 142nd in the field. Also racing for the Greyhounds was
Joella Mathilda (25:44.7),
Madison Manuelito (25:53.9), and
Maya Garcia Schafer (26:35.2). All of the women were racing in their first ever regional championship.
The top five finishing teams include:
- Adams State (42)
- UC Colorado Springs (74)
- Colorado School of Mines (82)
- Western Colorado (111)
- West Texas A&M (192)
Tristian Spence of Adams State won the race with a time of 20:06.2.
Eastern New Mexico concludes the 2025 cross country season and the long distance crew will now set their eyes towards the indoor track and field season beginning in a month.
