Oct. 29, 2010

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

• 2010 MWC Cross Country Championships Central
• 2010 Cross Country All-MWC Teams

The New Mexico men's and women's cross country teams claimed the 2010 Mountain West Conference Cross Country Championships hosted by Wyoming, on Friday at Jacoby Golf Course.

"It's nice when you win both. It makes for an easier ride home," Lobo men's and women's cross country coach Joe Franklin said. "We asked for them to lay it all out on the line and everyone ran great."

For the second year in a row, New Mexico captured the men's title with 40 points, placing five runners in the top 15. Finishing behind the Lobos in second place was BYU with 53 points, while Air Force (68), Wyoming (96), Colorado State (110) and TCU (166) placed third through sixth, respectively.

Battling windy, brisk conditions in Laramie, BYU junior Miles Batty took the men's individual title, finishing the 8K race in 25:01.6, beating out Air Force senior Justin Tyner, who earned runner-up honors with a mark of 25:09.5. Batty earned MWC Male Athlete of the Year honors for his performance.

Finishing in third place was Cougar freshman Jared Ward, who covered the course in 25:13.1, followed by New Mexico senior Rory Fraser in fourth with a time of 25:14.8. Rounding out the top five was New Mexico senior Keith Gerrard with a mark of 25:15.4.

For the third-straight year, New Mexico earned the women's title with a total of 20 points. Finishing behind the Lobos in second place was Colorado State with 60 points, while BYU (72 points), Air Force (132 points), Utah (139 points), Wyoming (141 points), San Diego State (214 points), UNLV (216 points) and TCU (219 points) rounded out third through ninth places.

Winning the 6,000-meter race and earning Mountain West Female Athlete of the Year honors was New Mexico's Natalie Gray. The junior clocked a time of 21:20.7, finishing ahead of Lobo junior Sarah Waldron (21:32.9).

Finishing third and fourth on the women's side were New Mexico senior Ruth Senior (21:38.8) and CSU junior Ellie Keyser, who earned a mark of 21:44.1. BYU junior Kate Bowen placed fifth with a time of 21:46.1.