Maison becomes Falcons’ first male athlete since Bragg in 2013 to capture individual title, contributing to lowest men’s team score; Mazza-Downie joins Bates and Kelati as only back-to-back women’s champions in conference history, as New Mexico places five in top 10 to extend record streak

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

LARAMIE, WYO. – Amelia Mazza-Downie was pursuing a pair of individual titles.

Sean Maison was looking to dedicate a victory to his twin brother Scott.

And the reigning champions at the Mountain West Conference cross country finals added to their impressive legacies Friday at the Jacoby Golf Course, with New Mexico extending its dynasty with a 15th consecutive women’s crown and the Air Force Academy men’s program celebrating its first three-peat.

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After Air Force learned that Scott Maison would be unavailable the rest of the season as result of being injured, junior Sean Maison responded with an inspiring performance in the men’s 8-kilometer race, leading a Falcons’ sweep of the top three spots by securing the victory in 23 minutes, 37.8 seconds.

Sean Maison became the first Air Force male athlete to win the individual crown since Isaiah Bragg in 2013.

Seniors Ryan Johnson (23:38.8) and Ethan Marshall (23:40.9) were second and third for Air Force, which prevailed by a 20-47 margin against Colorado State to produce the lowest men’s team score in conference finals history, eclipsing the 2012 winning mark of 22 points by New Mexico.

Sam Gilman (23:43.0) secured sixth and Bryce Lentz (23:45.3) earned eighth for the Falcons, who joined New Mexico (2009-14) and Brigham Young (1999-2002 and 2004-08) as the only men’s teams in conference history to win at least three in a row.

Colorado State’s Thomas Chaston, who led at the 6.5-kilometer mark, finished fourth in 23:41.6 and Mason Brown was seventh in 23:45.1 with four teammates separated by three seconds placing 11th through 14th for the Rams, who held the advantage at the midway point of the race.

Jacob White finished fifth for host Wyoming in 23:42.1, helping the Cowboys place fourth with 122 points.

Camren Todd (23:58.4) and Darren Harman (24:00.2) were ninth and 10th for Utah State, which took over the lead at the 5-kilometer mark, before finishing third with 74 points.

After achieving its first sweep of the top seven spots in the conference final last year in Albuquerque, New Mexico still showcased its dominance at 7,200-feet elevation Friday with five scorers in the top 10 and seven athletes among the first 14 finishers.

Mazza-Downie gradually closed on early leader Katelyn Mitchem of Wyoming and made a definitive surge just before the 5-kilometer mark to grab the advantage and never relinquish control, repeating as champion in the 6-kilometer competition by clocking 19:39.3.

Mazza-Downie joined Boise State’s Emma Bates (2013-14) and former New Mexico star Weini Kelati (2018-19) as the only female athletes in conference history to repeat as champion.

Emma Heckel took third in 19:42.8 and Gracelyn Larkin finished fourth in 19:49.7 for New Mexico, which prevailed by a 24-61 margin against Colorado State, with Utah State taking third at 99 points.

Elise Thorner secured sixth in 19:57.6 and Abbe Goldstein took 10th in 20:13.2 for the Lobos, who continued to add to the longest active NCAA Division 1 conference winning streak.

Aliandrea Upshaw (20:18.9) and Semira Mebrahtu Frezghi (20:25.7) placed 12th and 14th, respectively, for New Mexico, which also won a women’s conference title in Laramie in 2010.

Colorado State had Lily Tomasula-Martin (20:09.6) earn eighth for the second year in a row, with Annabel Stafford (20:10.7) taking ninth and Sarah Carter (20:16.2) placing 11th for the Rams, the last women’s team to win the championship in 2007 before New Mexico’s streak began.

Analee Weaver led Utah State by grabbing 13th in 20:24.1.

Yasmin Marghini of Boise State improved from 51st place last year to secure runner-up in 19:41.6, with Mitchem holding on to finish fifth in 19:52.2, elevating from 38th last season.

Wyoming was fourth with 110 points, just ahead of Boise State in fifth at 112 points, with Air Force securing sixth with 135 points, led by a seventh-place performance from Halle Hamilton (20:06.9).