DURANGO, Colo.—The Adams State Cross Country team took a step in the right direction as they began the championship portion of the season on Saturday afternoon at Hill Crest Golf Course.
 
The Grizzlies displayed some outstanding performances as the women's team won their second straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championship with 17 points. The men's team gave their best efforts and finished second with 46 points. The closest women's team was Colorado School of Mines, 59 points back, with 76 points. On the men's side, the Orediggers defeated the Grizzlies by 20 points as they finished with 26 points.
 
In the women's 6,000-meter race, the Grizzlies went 1-2-3-4 as Stephanie Cotter was the first to cross the line for the Grizzlies with a time of 20:45.80, followed By Brianna Robles who gave her best efforts and earned second place with a time of 20:50.80.
 
Precious Robinson stayed consistent throughout the race and stayed in range of her teammates to earn a third-place finish with a time of 21:30.10. Emily Schoellkopf showed remarkable efforts and she ran a strategic race to earn herself fourth place finish with a time of 21:34.00. Nicole Lawrence showed great efforts as she finished seventh with a time of 21:59.30 to round out the scorers. Freshman of the Year Maggie McCleskey in 11th (22:12.00), and Reina Paredes in 18th (22.34.30). Amalia Dorion also competed for the Grizzlies and represented them well as she finished 25th (22:48.60), followed by Franziska Althaus in 27th (22:57.30).
 
Cotter was named the RMAC Women's Runner of the Year while McClesskey was named the RMAC Freshman of the Year and Head Coach Damon Martin was named Women's Coach of the Year. The top six runners earned All-Conference First Team Honors while the next three runners earned Second Team Honors.
 
On the men's side, it was a tough 8,000-meter race from the gun but there were many great efforts from the Grizzlies. Cameron Allan was the first Grizzly to cross the line as he stayed engaged with the front pack earning him a fourth-place finish with a time of 24:41.80. Awet Beraki have his best efforts as he stayed within range of the top pack as he earned seventh place finish with a time of 24:58.40, followed by Miguel Coca who ran a strategic race earning a 10th place finish with a time of 25:05.10. Clement Duigou represented the grizzlies well as he finished in 12th (25:16.30), followed by Yonas Halie in 13th (25:19.10).
 
Some other Grizzlies who showed great efforts was James Dunne who finished 18th (25:28.50), Davonte Jett-Reynolds in 20th (25:36.80), Mitchell Dervin in 26th (25:52.50), and Andrew O'Keefe in 45th (26:23:60).
 
The top five Grizzlies earned First Team All-Conference Honors while the next three earned Second Team honors.
 
The Grizzlies will continue to train as they get ready to spike up on November 19th when they travel to Denver, Colo. to compete at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships.