LUBBOCK, Texas – The nationally-ranked Fort Lewis College men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2026 season with a pair of third-place team finishes at the Texas Tech Open on Friday morning at the Lubbock Christian University Cross Country Course.
The No. 17 women totaled 65 points in the 6-kilometer race, finishing behind No. 8 West Texas A&M (35) and NCAA Division I host Texas Tech (60). The Skyhawks narrowly edged Colorado Christian, which finished fourth with 69 points. The No. 14 men followed with 78 points in the 8K, trailing West Texas A&M (43) and Odessa College (74).
Women's Race
Sophomore Eliana Angelino made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, leading Fort Lewis with a fourth-place finish in 21:29.9. Angelino averaged 5:45.9 per mile and finished just 28 seconds behind individual champion Lily Mather of Texas Tech.
Sophomore Carysa Marquez gave the Skyhawks a second top-10 finisher, placing eighth with a time of 22:13.0. Senior Alliyah Molina followed in 14th at 22:37.3, while freshman Mattie Sheehan crossed in 18th with a time of 22:52.4.
Sophomore Madison Graffius rounded out the scoring five in 22nd overall, 21st among scoring runners, with a time of 23:21.7. The Skyhawks' five scorers combined for a time of 1:52:34 and averaged 22:30 across the 6K course.
Freshmen Ruby Romero and Elaina Cisneros completed Fort Lewis' top seven, crossing in 28th and 30th overall with times of 23:50.3 and 24:00.1, respectively. Junior Sophie Hamm followed in 37th at 24:13.9, with sophomore Ruth Bartlett close behind in 39th at 24:17.7.
Men's Race
Senior Elijah Smith led a tightly packed Fort Lewis men's squad with a fifth-place finish in the 8K, covering the course in 24:44.8. Smith averaged 4:58.7 per mile and was the highest NCAA Division II finisher behind Meshack Keter from West Texas A&M.
Junior Andres Cura was next across the line for Fort Lewis, placing 15th in 25:18.4. Fellow juniors Evan Morozowich and Brody Hubbard finished 18th and 19th with times of 25:30.0 and 25:40.9, respectively.
Junior Cooper Filmore completed the scoring five with a 21st-place finish in 25:46.4, giving Fort Lewis a total time of 2:07:00 and an average of 25:24. The Skyhawks placed all five scoring runners inside the top 21.
Senior Nicklas Pilven followed immediately behind in 22nd with a time of 25:52.4, while sophomore Cameron Shull finished 26th in 25:54.4 to round out the team's top seven. Sophomore Cody Sullivan was close behind in 27th at 25:57.5, giving Fort Lewis eight runners among the first 27 finishers.
Texas Tech sophomore Titus Kimaru won the men's individual title in 23:48.1, while West Texas A&M captured the team championship with 43 points. On the women's side, Mather earned the individual title in 21:01.7 as West Texas A&M claimed the team title with 35 points.
