MESCALERO – Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso cross country coach Micah Bray was hoping this year’s ENMU-Ruidoso Invitational would be a big draw for schools big and small this season.
But several schools pulled out of the meet, leaving the home team facing a small field on the Inn of the Mountain Gods golf course.
That didn’t deter Eastern’s runners, though, as they turned in winning times.
First-year runner Jayvn Frank was well in front of the field with a time of 30:27.03. While he would have liked to have more competition pushing him, he was happy with his performance. It was his first 5000-meter run in two years.
“I ran one before I started the season then, and it’s been a minute since I’ve won a race,” Frank said. “I’m glad to be back.”
Frank was just over a minute ahead of teammate Simon Vasquez, and Frank said he’d rather the distance between them be shorter.
“I was looking back a couple of times because I figured Simon was going to be right on me. We’re always close in practice,” Frank said. “He beat me two weeks ago at Lubbock, so I thought he’d be up there with me.”
Vasquez, for his part, needed a burst of speed near the end to take second, outrunning University of the Southwest’s Michael Dominguez in the final 100 yards.
“He (Dominguez) passed me on the trail, and I figured he would finish ahead of me,” Vasquez said. “When we got near the finish, something in me said ‘oh, heck no. I’m not gonna let him beat me.’”
Also turning on the speed over the last few meters was freshman Jack Wisdom, who went all out to pass USW’s Tristan Rodriquez at the end to finish fifth overall.
On the women’s side, Ashtyn Walter and Chyenne Marrufo were fourth and fifth in the final standings for ENMU-Ruidoso.
It was Walter’s first time on the course.
“I’d never even trained here, but it really beautiful, and the temperature was perfect today,” Walter said. “I wish I’d done better, but I think every runner thinks that.”
After many schools pulled out of this meet, including El Paso Community College and junior college power New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, ENMU-Ruidoso coach Michah Bray said his team still gave all it had on the course.
“It was a good showing for our team, and we really got to showcase against other teams that are newer programs like us,” Bray said. “Now we’re looking forward to going to NMJC in a couple of week and bringing the momentum we’ve built here. We’re also hoping to have a great showing at regionals as a second-year program.”
Todd Fuqua is Sports Editor for the Alamogordo News and can be reached at 575-937-0344.
