COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Both Colorado State University Pueblo cross country programs turned in seventh-place finishes on Saturday morning at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, hosted at North Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs.
Course Overview
The championship course at Monument Valley Park sits at an elevation of 6,109 feet and features crushed gravel paths roughly five to six meters wide, with a grass start and finish area. Runners navigated a combination of upper and lower 2-kilometer loops, making for a rhythm-based course that rewards strength and consistency at altitude. The women completed a lower–upper–lower sequence for their 6-kilometer race, while the men added an additional upper loop to make up their 8-kilometer distance.
Women’s Recap
The No. 19-ranked ThunderWolves women’s team totaled 186 points to place seventh overall in one of the most competitive fields in the nation. The team title went to No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, who dominated with 28 points.
Leading the charge for the Pack was senior Jadyn Herron, a key veteran from last year’s third-place national championship team. Herron placed 22nd individually, crossing the line in 21:47.58. Fellow national meet returner Camille Renou was close behind in 31st place, finishing in 22:04.63.
Junior transfer Olivia Drodz continued her strong first season in the red and blue, finishing 48th with a time of 22:42.08, while freshman Ella Egizio placed 50th at 22:46.38, adding valuable points in her RMAC Championship debut, and Lily Smithson finished in 56th place with a time of 22:58.69. The ThunderWolves’ scoring was rounded out by solid depth across the lineup in a field that featured multiple nationally ranked programs.
Men’s Recap
On the men’s side, CSU Pueblo matched the women’s finish, placing seventh with a team total of 230 points. The men raced over the 8-kilometer course, while Adams State claimed the team title with 32 points…