Eastern New Mexico University

PORTALES, N.M — Eastern New Mexico University cross country coach Eric Boll has announced the addition of 11 student athletes to compete for the Greyhounds and Zias in the upcoming season. The class is extremely talented and comes with high expectations, after the Hounds were picked third in the preseason poll, while the Zias placed seventh at last year’s conference meet.

Expectations will be especially high for Adrienne Montoya (Fr., Estancia, N.M./Public Academy for the Performing Arts), Casey Robertson (Jr., Columbus Junction, Iowa/Columbus Community HS/North Iowa Area CC) and Mohamed Noor (Jr., Lewiston, Maine/Lewiston HS). Montoya was the state runner-up in cross-country and was the runner-up in the 800-meter and mile in track & field. Robertson was a national qualifier in cross-country and an All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in track. Noor was considered one of the top recruits in the country after earning junior college All-American status last year.

Also looking to make strong contributions this year are Brittany Buchanan (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M./Hope Christian HS), Linda Vicario (Fr., El Paso, Texas/Chapin HS), Zerrick Vriseno (Fr., Belton, N.M./Belton HS), Brett Villareal (Fr., Amarillo, Texas/Tascosa HS), Baron Barber (Fr., West Palm Beach, Fla./Palm Beach Lakes HS), Trevor Merhege (Fr., Española, N.M./Santa Fe Indian School), Kris Cogswell (Fr., Las Cruces, N.M./Oñate HS) and Sal Duarte (Fr., Hobbs, N.M./Hobbs HS).

Buchanan placed in the top-ten in the state meet last season, while Vicario was a regional qualifier. Vriseno, Villareal, Cogswell and Barber were state qualifiers, while Merhege placed in the top ten at the New Mexico State meet. Duarte was a state qualifier in cross-country and took fourth in the 800-meter in track & field.