The University of Nevada cross country team placed fifth at the 2012 Mountain West Women’s Cross Country Championships Friday at Silver Bowl Park in Las Vegas, Nev. The Wolf Pack scored 149 points to match its fifth place finish at the 2011 WAC Cross Country Championships last season.
Reigning champion New Mexico won the MW Championship, scoring 35 points over Colorado State who had 63. Boise State placed third with 72 while Air Force was fourth at 92. New Mexico won individual honors with Lacey Oeding taking the top spot with a time of 20:49.9 in the 6K.
Nevada’s top runner was junior Samantha Diaz who placed seventh with a school record time of 21:10.5. Freshman Emily Myers finished 29th with a time of 22:09.1. Both received awards following the race, as Diaz was named to the 2012 All-Mountain West Women’s Cross Country Team and Myers was tabbed as the Women’s Freshman of the Year.
Sophomore Demery Kirsch was the next Nevada runner across the finish line, placing 32nd at 22:13. Behind Kirsch, was freshman Erika Root who placed 39th at 22:42.8. Christy Works finished 42nd at 23:03.3, while Mariah Gramolini took 48th at 23:11.6 and Julie Pedersen clocked in at 23:19.4 to finish 50th.
UNLV placed ninth at the championships with 278 points. Nevada picked up three points in the “Governor’s Series, presented by NV Energy” by finishing ahead of the Rebels at the championships.
The Wolf Pack returns to action at the Doc Adams Invitational hosted by UC Davis on Saturday, Nov. 3. After competing in that meet, the Wolf Pack will travel to the NCAA Mountain Regional on November 9, looking to qualify for its first NCAA Championship meet.
