A fifth place from athlete Keith Gerrard helped the University of New Mexico to the Mountain West Conference team crown on Friday.

The championships held in a windy Laramie, Wyoming, were to prove a tough test for the athletes with the 8km course located at over 7,200 feet above sea level.

Gerrard said: ‘It was quite slow over the first 6km but really picked up in the final stages, everyone was wary about going out too quick in the high altitude. It wasn’t the type of race I would have liked but I was pleased we won the team title.’

The Manx Sports Aid recipient was second home for the UNM Lobos in a time of 25:15.4, less than a second behind teammate Rory Fraser who were both later named to the All-Conference first team.

The New Mexico team finished with 40 points to second-place going to rivals Brigham Young University (Utah) on 53.

The Lobos head to Salt Lake City in two weeks time to contest the Mountain Region Championships were they will again meet BYU, plus the high ranked University of Northern Arizona and University of Colorado.