EAGLE, Idaho – Utah State's men's and women's cross country teams finished in the top five at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships on Friday at Eagle Island State Park. The top Aggie finisher was junior Emma Thornley, who placed fourth in the women's 6K with a time of 20:23.3.

Thornley garnered first-team all-MW honors by placing fourth – the best finish by an Aggie on the women's side since Utah State joined the Mountain West in 2013. It is also marked the best finish by an Aggie since Alyssa Snyder captured sixth in 2017.

No. 25 Colorado State (39 points) dethroned New Mexico on the women's side. The Lobos had captured an unprecedented 15-consecutive team titles, but finished fourth this time around with 111 points. 

The Aggies took fifth place with 113 points, topping sixth-place Wyoming by two points. Boise State (65) was second and Air Force (87) was third.

Thornley was the first scorer for Utah State. Grad senior Abby Jensen finished in the top 20 at 19th with a time of 20:53.7, while freshman Brie Smith placed 25th with a time of 21:04.7. Rounding out the scoring for the Aggies was sophomore Sarah Ellis in 31st (21:16.8) and freshman Shelby Jensen in 34th (21:19.9).

In the men's 8K, No. 18 New Mexico won with 34 points, defeating No. 26 Air Force by two points. The Aggie men finished fifth with 130 points behind No. 23 Boise State (75) and Wyoming (96), respectively.

Spencer Nelson led the Aggie men as the senior placed 17th with a time of 24:01.7. Grad senior Bridger Altice and junior Brennan Benson both finished in the top 30, placing 24th and 28th with times of 24:11.0 and 24:16.5, respectively. Sophomore Logan Garnica (31st, 24:26.0) and grad senior Camren Todd (32nd, 24:27.0).

The Aggies will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 10, at the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships in Lubbock, Texas. The NCAA Championships will take place eight days later on Saturday, Nov. 18, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

For more information on the Utah State track & field/cross country programs, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at USUTF_XC.

2023 MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS

Eagle Island Park | Eagle, Idaho | October 27, 2023

Men's 8K Team Results:
1. No. 18 New Mexico – 1, 2, 3, 8, 20, (33), (49) – 34
2. No. 26 Air Force – 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, (16), (25) – 36
3. No. 23 Boise State – 5, 11, 14, 19, 26, (30), (35) – 75
4. Wyoming – 13, 15, 18, 23, 27, (36), (40) – 96
5. UTAH STATE – 17, 24, 28, 31, 32 (38), (50) – 130
6. Colorado State – 12, 21, 34, 37, 45, (52), (61) – 141
7. Nevada – 22, 46, 54, 57, 62, (63), (64) – 199
8. San José State – 60, 68, 70, 71, 72, (74), (75) – 256
9. Fresno State – 73, 76, 77, 78, 79 – 293

Men's Top-Five Finishers: 1. Habtom Samuel (UNM) – 22:57.7; 2. Evans Kiplagat (UNM) – 23:15.7; 3. Lukas Kiprop (UNM) – 23:23.3; 4. Max Sannes (AFA) – 23:27.3; 5. Joe Hudson (BSU) – 23:31.1.

Utah State Men's Results: 17. Spencer Nelson – 24:01.7; 24. Bridger Altice – 24:11.0; 28. Brennan Benson – 24:16.5; 31. Logan Garnica – 24:26.0; 32. Camren Todd – 24:27.0; 38. Caleb Armstrong – 24:34.9; 50. Eric Nelson – 24:59.2; 51. Yonas Mogos – 24:59.9; 56. Max Wehrli – 25:14.8; 58. Wyatt Evans – 25:26.5.

Women's 6K Team Results:

1. No. 25 Colorado State – 1, 5, 7, 11, 15, (20), (43) – 39
2. Boise State – 8, 10, 13, 16, 18, (24), (27) – 65
3. Air Force – 3, 9, 21, 22, 32, (35), (40) – 87
4. New Mexico – 2, 12, 26, 30, 42, (63), (67) – 111
5. UTAH STATE – 4, 19, 25, 31, 34, (36), (38) – 113
6. Wyoming – 6, 17, 23, 29, 41, (45), (48) – 115
7. San Diego State – 28, 33, 44, 56, 66, (77), (79) – 206
8. Nevada – 37, 54, 61, 64, 65, (71), (89) – 238
9. Fresno State – 52, 68, 70, 72, 73, (75), (80) – 278
10. UNLV – 14, 82, 84, 87, 90, (91), (92) – 285
11. San José State – 62, 74, 93, 96, 99, (100), (101) – 333

Women's Top-Five Finishers: 1. Sarah Carter (CSU) – 19:48.5; 2. Nicola Jansen (UNM) – 19:54.1; 3. Halle Hamilton (AFA) – 20:19.8; 4. Emma Thornley (USU) – 20:23.3; 5. Quinn McConnell (CSU) – 20:26.1.

Utah State Women's Results: 4. Emma Thornley – 20:23.3; 19. Abby Jensen – 20:53.7; 25. Brie Smith – 21:04.7; 31. Sarah Ellis – 21:16.8; 34. Shelby Jensen – 21:19.9; 36. Sammi Lee – 21:22.2; 46. Bailey Brinkerhoff-Todd – 21:31.5; 49. Mimi Miyazawa – 21:54.8; 59. Natalie Swain – 22:23.1; 60. Megumi Ludlow – 22:30.5.
 

MOUNTAIN WEST CROSS COUNTRY POSTSEASON AWARDS

MW Athlete of the Year
Men: Habtom Samuel, New Mexico
Women: Sarah Carter, Colorado State
 
MW Freshman of the Year
Men: Evans Kiplagat, New Mexico
Women: Julia Kiesler, Boise State
 
MW Coach of the Year
Men: Darren Gauson, New Mexico
Women: Kelly Hart, Colorado State

MW First-Team All-Conference
Utah State Women: Emma Thornley