With another exceptional group around her, Wright looks to cap career with second national title in Louisville

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Not a day goes by when Alice Wright doesn’t appreciate the magic created by the 2015 New Mexico women’s cross country team, especially at the NCAA Division 1 final in Louisville, Ky.

But perhaps the greatest respect for what the Lobos achieved two years ago at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park came from Ednah Kurgat and Charlotte Prouse, who witnessed firsthand New Mexico’s dominance as members of opposing teams.

The Lobos’ memorable 49-point performance at the championship meet also served as inspiration for Kurgat – who placed 12th as a freshman at Liberty – and Prouse, 78th in her national finals debut for Washington, to eventually join Wright during her senior year in Albuquerque.

New Mexico’s historic showcase, placing five runners in the top 25, also motivated 2015 Foot Locker national champion and Eritrean standout Weini Kelati, Australian U20 5,000-meter gold medalist Sophie Eckel and Puerto Rico’s Alondra Negron Texidor – an IAAF World U20 participant last year in the 1,500 – to add even more international flavor to an already diverse roster as freshmen.

The collaboration of cultures and capabilities has not only presented Wright with an opportunity to win another national team title in her final college cross country race, but has also given Kurgat – a redshirt sophomore who trained all last year in Albuquerque – a legitimate chance to become the Lobos’ first individual champion Saturday in Louisville.

“I just thank God for giving me good health. It wasn’t easy to come a long way for one year without competing,” Kurgat said. “Having come this far and waiting to go for a national championship, I’m so excited for this race and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

It didn’t take long for Wright to realize New Mexico’s potential during the first couple of weeks of fall training, when the Lobos equaled, if not exceeded, the efforts of the 2015 lineup that included IAAF World Championship 3,000-meter steeplechase silver medalist Courtney Frerichs, along with Rhona Auckland, Calli Thackery, Molly Renfer, Heleene Tambet and Whitney Thornburg.

“Our sessions were very similar to that of early 2015 season, if not faster, and the group displayed great depth with some impressive sessions from pretty much every member of the team,” Wright said. “Everyone had clearly put in some good base training over the summer and that really set the tone for some strong workouts early season, giving us confidence as we started our racing season.”

New Mexico wasted little time showcasing its depth Sept. 2, winning its own Lobo Invitational, placing five runners in the top 11, a group that didn’t include a victory from an unattached Kelati or a fifth-place finish from an unattached Alex Buck, the team’s No. 4 scorer Friday at the Mountain Regional in Logan, Utah.

From there, the Lobos took second by a 47-51 margin Sept. 29 to Colorado at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, with Kurgat producing the first of her four individual victories. She was supported by Wright, Kelati and Prouse also placing in the top eight.

It was more of the same strength up front Oct. 13 for New Mexico at the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational, with Kurgat, Wright, Prouse and Kelati all finishing in the top 15 to secure an 87-126 victory over San Francisco.

“It was fun from the beginning. We didn’t really know what to expect because I hadn’t raced since cross country of last year, Ednah hadn’t either (since 2015) and Weini was a freshman. We knew Alice was going to be good and the rest of the girls were putting in the work as well, but you don’t really know what’s going to happen,” said Prouse, who placed sixth in the 3,000 steeplechase for Canada at last year’s World U20 Championships in Poland.

“Thankfully it kind of just all clicked. We just started having a lot of fun and working together really well. We have a great group of women. I feel like everyone talks about the top four, but realistically our Nos. 1 through 9, even Nos. 1 through 12 are really strong, so I think that at the end of the day, that’s what matters because you never know how everyone is going to race.”

Although Kelati enjoyed an exceptional prep career in Virginia, winning New Balance National indoor and outdoor titles in the 2 mile and 5,000 meters in addition to the Foot Locker cross country crown, she had also turned 19 before her senior year at Heritage High, which didn’t allow her to compete prior to enrolling at New Mexico as she worked toward earning her high school diploma.

It didn’t take Kelati long to adapt to coach Joe Franklin’s training schedule and rediscover her rhythm, quickly bonding with new teammates to create chemistry and cohesiveness in workouts and races.

“It’s good to have so many great people around you. Every day when I come to work out, they motivate me to be a part of them. It’s not me. It’s all of their work. It’s been a great experience to have such great athletes with you and it helps you to build for the next race and for your future,” Kelati said. “It’s been such an amazing season working together, moving together, finding each other during the race and making it happen.”

In addition to the depth of the women’s program and the presence of two-time NCAA men’s track champion Josh Kerr – in last year’s indoor mile and outdoor 1,500 – there was even more talent present in Albuquerque this fall when Frerichs visited the Lobos before returning to train with her Bowerman Track Club teammates in Portland, Ore.

It didn’t take long for Frerichs to recognize the intangibles in this season’s group that were also present during New Mexico’s title run two years ago.

“The girls seem really close and seem to be approaching the season very similarly to the way we did. They work to be the best versions of themselves in order to help the team. They don’t obsess over results, but seem to enjoy each step along the way,” Frerichs said. “The atmosphere was fun and relaxed when I was around, but still very determined. They also spend a fair amount of time exploring the coffee shops around Albuquerque, which we definitely did as well.”

Wright, who represented Great Britain last year at the European Cross Country Championships, considers those moments away from the track and trails among her fondest memories of New Mexico’s championship season.

“We were a very tight-knit bunch and there was certainly a feeling of empowerment on the team as we developed a strong friendship and trust with one another,” Wright said. “Obviously having Courtney on the team and seeing what she has achieved this summer with a silver at the World Champs has inspired not only everyone on the 2015 team, but also the current team. Witnessing her development as an athlete at UNM simply shows the strength of the UNM cross country and track program and makes me and the rest of the team realize how fortunate we are to receive such amazing coaching here.”

The Lobos meshed student-athletes from four countries in their 2015 lineup, but there are twice as many nations represented on this year’s roster. It gives New Mexico the potential to match the Iona men’s team by placing seven individuals from as many countries on the starting line Saturday.

“Despite the various nationalities, the team dynamic is very strong and we’re all very supportive of each other on and off the cross country course,” Wright said. “I think the fact that we have so many different nationalities actually creates a bond between us – ‘internationality.’”

Kurgat, who hails from Kenya, has the potential to be the first female athlete since Villanova’s Sheila Reid in 2010 to win individual and team titles in the same year. But she also has plenty of appreciation for how well teammates have helped her acclimate off the course.

“We try to come together in our general life and our socialization. It’s been great because it’s pushed me beyond my comfort zone and I’m privileged to have them (as teammates),” said Kurgat, who has won Mountain West Conference and Mountain Regional titles.

“I’m pleased to be among those girls. They make me who I am.”

Following a 10th consecutive conference crown and a runner-up regional finish to Colorado by a 62-70 margin – with Wright not competing in order to rest for nationals – New Mexico is again a title contender following last year’s seventh-place result, joining San Francisco, Oregon, Stanford and the Buffaloes.

When the Lobos lost to Colorado by one point without Wright at the 2015 regionals, they responded the following week with an 80-point victory at the national final. While the outcome isn’t expected to be as lopsided Saturday, New Mexico knows it has the preparation, poise and personnel to produce another championship performance and become the ninth Division 1 women’s program to win multiple titles.

“At the end of the day, we’re each doing what we need to do, but it’s coming together as a whole. When we get to Louisville, we’re going to be full of run and ready to go. It’s all about staying relaxed, having fun and communicating with each other,” Prouse said. “What’s really amazing is knowing that at the end of the day that we truly are doing it for each other and we just want in the end to cross that line and look back and have all of our Lady Lobos around us. It’s such a team effort, it’s really exciting and it’s so fun to be a part of. It just makes it so much easier when you’re running knowing that you have girls out there with you doing it for you as well.

“I think that’s what’s really special about cross country and specifically this team. It’s been a great change and I love it a lot.”

Despite the changes in supporting cast, Wright has been the constant during the most prolific chapter in New Mexico cross country history, one she hopes to punctuate with a fourth All-America honor, a third podium finish and a second national title at a place of past Lobos’ glory.

“Being a senior on the team, I have been fortunate to be a part of a third-place team finish in 2014 and a win in 2015, so it would really be the icing on the cake for us to win the title again this year, especially since it’s my final year,” Wright said. “It would be amazing!”