PROVO, Utah – Utah State's Cierra Simmons was the lone Aggie to record all-region accolades as the senior distance runner turned in an impressive race, placing 17th with a time of 20:25.0 at the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships on Friday at East Bay Golf Course.
 
By placing in the top 25, Simmons garnered all-region accolades for the first time in her career. Fellow senior Alyssa Snyder nearly gave the Aggies a pair of all-region honorees, but she crossed the finish line in 26th place with a time of 20:49.5.
 
"Honestly, this race was the dream because we started out and Alyssa (Snyder) was next to me and I saw Megan (Ryan) out front," Simmons said. "There was a point where all three of us were running side by side. It felt like a controlled race. I didn't have to kill it in the beginning and I just had to run with my teammates and be prepared to keep going when it started hurting. It was good and it all came together so nicely. I just wish I could've kept those two next to me."
 
Simmons led Utah State's women to a seventh-place finish with a total of 222 points. The Aggies finished ahead of in-state rivals Weber State (eighth, 243 points), Utah (11th, 294) and Utah Valley (15th, 377), as well as Mountain West-foes Colorado State (ninth, 280) and Wyoming (12th, 300).
 
"She ran well, as she always does," second-year USU head coach Artie Gulden said of Simmons. "She put herself in a good position. The race was really tough all the way through and she out-kicked a couple of girls to improve her spot. She ran tough and hopefully, it will work out that we'll get to have her go (to the NCAA National Championships) next week.
 
New Mexico captured the team title with 41 points. The Lobos were led by Weini Kelati and Ednah Kurgat, who finished first and second with times of 19:15.0 and 19:31.7, respectively.
 
Other finishers for the Aggies included freshman Mica Rivera in 54th (21:20.4), senior Megan Ryan in 58th (21:23.7), junior Josie Givens in 67th (21:30.9), junior Grace Gibbons in 105th (22:14.3) and senior Tavia Dutson in 108th (22:19.5).
 
"We were ranked seventh and finished seventh," Gulden said of the women's race. "It was a little disappointing that we were 10 points behind sixth place. That would've been nice to beat another team. Overall, the girls collectively ran tough."
 
On the men's side, Utah State placed eighth with 239 points. Junior Luke Beattie led the way for the Aggies as he finished 31st overall with a time of 30:05.8, while fellow junior Adam Hendrickson placed 33rd with a time of 33:09.4.
 
"It wasn't what I wanted," Beattie said. "I wanted to be in the top 25 and I came up short. I fought through it, though, so we'll see what happens tomorrow team-wise (with the NCAA Selection Show). Adam (Hendrickson) fought hard, too, and ran a tough race."
 
The Aggies defeated in-state rivals Weber State (ninth, 239 points) and Utah Valley (15th, 427), as well as Mountain West-foe New Mexico (10th, 256). Northern Arizona captured the team title with 42 points.
 
Three runners placed in the top 50 for the Aggies as junior Sam Clausnitzer was 45th with a time of 30:29.6. Other finishers for Utah State included junior James Withers in 54th (30:46.6), sophomore Coen Haroldsen in 76th (31:19.8), sophomore Haydon Cooper in 78th (31:26.2) and redshirt freshman Stokton Smith in 91st (32:06.3).
 
"The men finished eighth and that probably won't get us in the NCAAs," Gulden said. "We did beat NC State, who is going to the NCAAs, but we needed to beat one of the teams in front of us. We'll see how it shakes out tomorrow, but I can't fault our guys' effort. They ran hard, especially Luke and Adam."
 
Fans can follow the Utah State track & field and cross country programs at twitter.com/USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at instagram.com/USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
RESULTS
NCAA DIVISION I CROSS COUNTRY MOUNTAIN REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS
Friday, Nov. 9, 2018
East Bay Golf Course
Provo, Utah • Men – 10k • Women – 6k
 
Utah State All-Region Recipients
Women: Cierra Simmons – 17th
 
Men's Team Results
1. Northern Arizona – 42
2. BYU – 56
3. Colorado – 71
4. Colorado State – 114
5. Southern Utah – 146
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8. Utah State – 239
 
Men's Individual Top Finishers
1. Joe Klecker (CU), 29:16.6
2. Tyler Day (NAU), 29:18.8
3. Matthew Baxter (NAU), 29:19.0
4. Aidan Reed (SUU), 29:23.3
5. Eric Hamer (CSU), 29:24.1
 
Utah State's Men's Finishers
31. Luke Beattie, 30:05.8
33. Adam Hendrickson, 30:09.4
45. Sam Clausnitzer, 30:29.6
54. James Withers, 30:46.6
76. Coen Haroldsen, 31:19.8
78. Haydon Cooper, 31:26.2
91. Stokton Smith, 32:06.3
 
Women's Team Results
1. New Mexico – 41
2. Colorado – 53
3. BYU – 85
4. Southern Utah – 155
5. Air Force – 170
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7. Utah State – 222
 
Women's Individual Top Finishers
1. Weini Kelati (UNM), 19:15.0
2. Ednah Kurgat (UNM), 19:31.7
3. Erica Birk (BYU), 19:34.9
4. Jaci Smith (AFA), 19:44.1
5. Angie Nickerson (SUU), 19:57.6
 
Utah State's Women's Finishers
17. Cierra Simmons, 20:25.0
26. Alyssa Snyder, 20:49.5
54. Mica Rivera, 21:20.4
58. Megan Ryan, 21:23.7
67. Josie Givens, 21:30.9
105. Grace Gibbons, 22:14.3
108. Tavia Dutson, 22:19.5