Klecker Wins Individual Title; Women Earn 5th Straight Region Crown

LOGAN, Utah — Colorado sophomore Joe Klecker took home top honors in the men's 10-kilometer race on Friday at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships, while the top-ranked CU women's team recorded their fifth straight region title.

The win automatically advances the women to the NCAA Championships, while the men, who earned a third-place finish, should receive an at-large bid to NCAAs. Those will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 11, by the NCAA.

THE WOMEN'S RACE: Top-ranked Colorado led the whole way, running a very controlled and smart race to earn its ninth straight trip to the NCAA Championships, besting No. 2 New Mexico for the fifth consecutive year (62-70).

Junior Makena Morley led CU for the second straight year at regionals, finishing the 6k race seventh overall in 20:21.5. In 2016, she was the Buffs' top finisher with a fourth place finish in 20:20. Morley ran very steady as she was eighth after the mile-mark and moved up to seventh at the two-mile split, which is where she would stay.

Junior Dani Jones and sophomore Sage Hurta tied for 12^th, both finishing in 20:29.4. Right on their shoulder was senior Kaitlyn Benner, who was 14^th overall (20:29.6). The final scorer for CU was sophomore Brianna Schwartz, who was 16^th in 20:33.7.

Senior Melanie Nun did not score for the Buffs, but still recorded a great finish at 20^th overall. Junior Mackenzie Caldwell also raced and finished 31^st in 21:01.7.

THE MEN'S RACE: Colorado, which was ranked fifth nationally and third in the region, finished exactly on paper where they were supposed to finish. The Buffs ran a great race, finishing just one point behind No. 2 BYU (79-80). Northern Arizona won with 49 points.

Klecker, who finished second at the Pac-12 Championships two weeks ago, had one of his best cross country races ever, defeating BYU's Rory Linkletter by just one second (30:13.6-30:14.6). Klecker was 14^th after the first two miles before jumping up to third at the three-mile split. He stayed there until the final portion of the race to become the first Buff since Billy Nelson [in 2005] to win the men's region championship.

Senior Zach Perrin had his best region championship finish with a ninth-place performance, crossing the finish in 30:32.2, just .02 seconds from eighth. Junior Ryan Forsyth was 17^th overall (30:45.4) and freshman Eduardo Herrera was 25^th (30:55.8) in his first region race. Junior Ethan Gonzales was the final scorer for CU, coming in 28^th in 31:04.7.

CU's other racers were seniors Christian Martin and Adam Peterman. Martin was 35^th and Peterman placed 41^st.

NOTES: All-Region honors were given to 10 Buffs as the top-25 in each race are honored. Makena Morley, Dani Jones, Sage Hurta, Kaitlyn Benner, Brianna Schwartz and Melanie Nun were honored on the women's side, while Joe Klecker, Zach Perrin, Ryan Forsyth and Eduardo Herrara recorded honors on the men's side.

UP NEXT: The NCAA Championships are Saturday, Nov. 18, in Louisville, Ky.

QUOTEABLE:
Head Coach Mark Wetmore
On The Women's Finish
"New Mexico came here with the same mentality that we do, which is to run as carefully as possible. In their case, they sat out their second or third best runner, who I believe won this a year ago, so they were a little light in their personal. We ran pretty much everybody, but we did keep out Madie Boreman. I was happy with how our team ran. Everybody got through unscathed, so now its rest up and be ready again in eight days."

On Makena Leading CU At Regionals For The Second Straight Year
"I don't think it is a matter of altitude. I think it is a matter of her mom, dad and sister being here. Our team is instructed to run carefully and controlled. She's given a little bit of special dispensation because it is so close to her home. So when she makes a move, the girls' say "go for it Makena"."

On Joe Klecker's Individual Win
"Well, Joe ran very well and I am pleased he got a win. But I'm confident that there were a lot of people in there being very careful and thinking more about next week. I talked to him and I said "You didn't borrow from next week for a win at regionals did you?" and he said "No, I was in control the whole way and felt good."

On the Men's Team Performance:
"For the most part, they ran well, particularly Ethan [Gonzales] and Christian [Martin]. These are guys that have been emerging for us and were useful today. Adam didn't have a great day but he was brilliant at the conference meet and I know that is in him. So that is why you run seven because somebody has an off day and somebody rises up. "

On The Men's Team's Chances Of Advancing:
"I am sure that they are in. I have no doubt they are in."

RESULTS
2017 NCAA MOUNTAIN REGION CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Steven & Donna Reeder Cross Country Course (Logan, Utah)

Women's 6k Team Results:
1. Colorado 62; 2. New Mexico 70; 3. BYU 113; 4. Utah Stata 125; 5. Utah 149; 6. Air Force 183; 7. Colorado State 194; 8. Northern Arizona 231; 9. Nevada 231; 10. Montana State, 301; 11. Weber State 306; 12. Idaho State 335; 13. Utah Valley 354; 14. UTEP 366; 15. Wyoming 376; 16. Southern Utah 391; 17. Montana 438.5; 18. New Mexico State 471; 19. Texas Tech 495.

Women's 6k Individual Results (top 10):
1. Ednah Kurgat, UNM, 20:01.4; 2. Grayson Murphy, UU, 20:04.0; 3. Weini Kelati, UNM, 20:05.5; 4. Winny Koech, UTEP, 20:08.5; 5. Charlotte Prouse, UNM, 20:15.3; 6. Jaci Smith, AFA, 20:17.0; 7. Makena Morley, CU, 20:21.5; 8. Paige Gilchrist, NAU, 20:21.8; 9. Laura Young, BYU, 20:22.1; 10. Jenica Dodge, ISU, 20:25.7.

Other CU Finishers:
12. Sage Hurta, 20:29.4; 12. Dani Jones, 20:29.4; 14. Kaitlyn Benner, 20:29.6; 16. Brianna Schwartz, 20:33.7; 20. Melanie Nun, 20:40.3; 31. Mackenzie Caldwell, 21:01.7.

Men's 10k Team Results:
1. Northern Arizona 49; 2. BYU 79; 3. Colorado 80; 4. Colorado State 103; 5. Air Force 118; 6. Southern Utah 127; 7. Utah State 197; 8. New Mexico 260; 9. Wyoming 286; 10. Weber State 301; 11. Utah Valley 316; 12. Montana State 379; 13. Idaho State 380; 14. New Mexico State 389; 15. UTEP 417; 16. Texas Tech 427; 17. Northern Colorado 451; 18. Montana 500.

Men's 10k Individual Results (top 10)
1. Joe Klecker, CU, 30:13.6; 2. Rory Linkletter, BYU, 30:14.6; 3. Tyler Day, NAU, 30:16.5; 4. Connor McMillian, BYU, 30:17.3; 5. Matthew Baxter, NAU, 30:18.3; 6. Jerrell Mock, CSU, 30:19.9; 7. Dillon Maggard, USU, 30:26.4; 8. Mickey Davey, AFA, 30:32.0; 9. Zach Perrin, CU, 30:32.2; 10. Grant Fischer, CSU, 30:38.4.

Other CU Finisher:
17. Ryan Forsyth, 30:45.4; 25. Eduardo Herrera, 30:55.8; 28. Ethan Gonzales, 31:04.7; 35. Christian Martin, 31:16.0; 47. Adam Peterman, 31:32.4.

Klecker Wins Individual Title; Women Earn 5th Straight Region Crown

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Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Benner

Madie Boreman

Mackenzie Caldwell

Ryan Forsyth

Ethan Gonzales

Eduardo Herrera

Sage Hurta

Dani Jones

Joe Klecker

Christian Martin

Makena Morley

Melanie Nun

Zach Perrin

Adam Peterman

Brianna Schwartz