Nov. 12, 2005
It was a day of firsts for The University of Texas-Pan American men's cross country team.
Senior Westly Keating (Pharr, TX/University of Texas) became the first UTPA runner to capture the NCAA Division I Regional Championship as he broke a course-record with a time of 29:30.07 on Saturday (Nov. 12) in Waco, TX.
A two-time cross country All-American, Keating broke away from the pack midway through the race and finished a full minute ahead of runner-up Josphat Boit from the University of Arkansas, who captured the national championship last season in the 10,000 meters. With the victory, Keating earned his third trip to the NCAA Division I National Championships, which will be held at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN, on Nov. 22nd.
Keating wasn't the only person to earn a trip to the national championships as he was joined by fellow senior Hector Gandara (Mission, TX/Pratt Community College), who finished 14th overall with a time of 31:42.00. It was the first time in program history that the Broncs will be sending a pair of runners to the NCAA Division I National Championships.
Freshman Luis Nava (La Joya, TX/La Joya H.S.) finished 24th overall with a time of 32:29.25 and earned a spot on the All-Region team for the first time in his career. With Keating, Gandara and Nava all members of the All-Region Team, it was the first time in program history that the Broncs had a trio of student-athletes earn a spot on that team.
The Broncs finished fourth overall in the meet with a total of 147 points, which was their best finish in program history. The University of Arkansas captured the team championship with a total of 33 points, while Texas (46) and Texas A&M (147) finished two and three in the meet.
Alex Moncivias (Pharr, TX/Texas A&M - Kingsville) finished 51st overall with a time of 33:49.40 while J.J. Hernandez (San Juan, TX/PSJA North H.S.), Americo Ortiz (Pharr, TX/PSJA North H.S.) and Angel Ramirez (Mission, TX/Waelder H.S.) finished 57th, 58th and 59th, respectively.
"It was a great overall race," said head men's and women's track and field / cross country coach Ricky Vaughn. "It was absolutely outstanding, and we couldn't have asked for anything better. To have Westly win the meet, a pair of runners going to nationals and three of them on the All-Region Team, I couldn't be happier with the day."
The Lady Broncs finished 12th overall with a total of 333 points and failed to earn a spot in the top 10 of the NCAA Division I Regional Championship standings.
Junior Karla Hernandez (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg H.S.) was the Lady Broncs' top performer as she crossed the end line in 23:43.90, which placed her in 51st-place. Ashley Perez (Falfurrias, TX/Falfurrias H.S.) finished six spots behind her teammate in 57th place with a time of 23:54.00.
Sara Rodriguez (Pharr, TX/Valley View H.S.) finished 68th overall with a time of 24:14.40 while Rose Escovedo (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) was 77th overall, crossing the finish line in 77th place. Lorraine Garcia (Laredo, TX/Nixon H.S.), Sonya Rivera (Brownsville, TX/Hanna H.S.) and Sharon Toroitich (Eldama-Ravin, Kenya/Butler C.C.) finished 89th, 92nd and 95th overall.
"I was a little disappointed with the women today, and I thought that we had a chance coming into the race of finishing in the top 10," said Vaughn.
The Bronc national qualifiers - Keating and Gandara - will both compete at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN, at the NCAA Division I National Championships on Nov. 22nd.
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