RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada cross country team concluded its 2010-11 season with an 18th-place team finish at the NCAA Mountain Region Championship Saturday, Nov. 13.
The Wolf Pack struggled this season, as they faced tough competition in every meet. Nevada finished third at the Nevada Twilight Meet, their first of the season. This was followed by a fifth-place finish at the Sundodger Invitational and a second-place finish at the Nevada Chase Race. Nevada claimed 14th at the Bronco Invitational. The Wolf Pack runners were able to snag the 6th-place team spot at the Western Athletic Conference Championship, but a disappointing 18th-place team finish at the NCAA Mountain Region Championship followed.
"This was a frustrating year for our team and coaching staff," head coach Kirk Elias said. "We certainly had some highlights, but there were too many low points for anyone's satisfaction."
This season did, however, allow many of the Wolf Pack runners to showcase their individual talents.
Sophomore Samantha Diaz recorded strong individual performances in each of Nevada's meets this season. Diaz finished as the Wolf Pack's first or second runner in each race she ran this season, including a second-place overall finish at the Nevada Twilight Meet (15:11) and a fifth-place overall finish at the Bronco Invitational (17:11). The Shingle Springs, Calif. native claimed her spot in the Nevada cross country record books by running the third fastest 5k in school history at the Bronco Invitational (17:11). It is these breakout performances that earned Diaz the honor of Most Valuable Runner at the team's end-of-season banquet.
Fresno City College transfer Jenifer McEntire was voted the team's Most Improved Runner. McEntire finished 11th overall (16:11) at the Wolf Pack's first meet of the season, the Nevada Twilight Meet. The redshirt junior went on to record the top-time for Nevada in the team's next two meets: the Sundodger Invitational (15th overall, 21:53) and the Nevada Chase Race (5th overall, 20:43). At the Wolf Pack's largest meet of the season, the Bronco Invitational, McEntire finished 51st overall (18:04). In the post season, McEntire placed 30th and 112th overall in the WAC and NCAA Mountain Region Championships, respectively.
Walk-on Nicole Painter was honored with the Coaches Award, which is reserved for the team's hardest worker, at the team's end-of-season banquet. Painter started the season by finishing in the Wolf Pack's top-three in each of the team's first meets. Her highest overall finish came in the Nevada Chase Race where she took 8th with a time of 21:05. The Mililani, Hawaii native ran the four and five spot for Nevada in the team's three remaining races: the Bronco Invitational (97th overall, 18:44), the WAC Championship (46thnd overall, 23:59). overall, 19:10) and the NCAA Mountain Region Championship (122
Gloria Sosa was another standout for the Wolf Pack this season. Sosa earned the team's Sneak Attack Award, which was created specifically to honor the redshirt sophomore and the way in which she surprises coaches, teammates and competitors in practices and at meets with her solid performances. Sosa finished fourth for Nevada and 50th overall (23:19) at the Sundodger Invitational, her first race of the season. The Carson City, Nev. native turned in a seventh-place overall finish at the Nevada Chase Race (20:57) and recorded her fastest time of the season with a 75th-place overall finish at the Bronco Invitational (18:28). Sosa's post season performances included a 37th-place overall finish at the WAC Championship (18:57), and a 101st-place overall finish at the NCAA Mountain Region Championship (23:05).
Freshman Alissa Hood was voted the team's Newcomer of the Year. Hood started the season by running the five spot for the Wolf Pack at the Nevada Twilight Meet (23rd overall, 17:15). The Granite Bay, Calif. native placed 75th overall at the Sundodger Invitational (24:12), and 16th overall at the Nevada Chase Race (22:23). In the post season, Hood finished sixth for the Wolf Pack at the WAC Championship (48th overall, 19:25) and the NCAA Mountain Region Championship (128th overall, 24:20).
Elias maintains that his team will be ready for the 2011-12 season and that fans can expect good things from his young squad.
"We have all of the ingredients to take a run at the conference title next fall," Elias said. "I know we have the talent to contend, and so does everyone on the team. This is a hungry, talented squad that is already talking about next year.
"In spite of the frustration we all experienced, there is a great sense of optimism with 19 of 20 athletes returning for next year," Elias said. "This was a young team that went through some growing pains. I am excited to see what the next twelve months bring."
