Sept. 17, 2005
The University of Texas - Pan American men's and women's cross country teams performed well in their first meet of the season on Saturday (Sept. 17) at the Rice Invitational in Houston, TX.
On the men's side, Westly Keating (Pharr, TX/University of Texas) led the way, finishing in third place with a time of 17:21.07. Coming across the line in front of Keating were Shadrack Songok (Texas A&M - Corpus Christi) and Marcel Hewamudalige (Rice University).
Hector Gandara (Mission, TX/Pratt Community College) crossed the finish line in seventh place in 17:49.38. Luis Nava (La Joya, TX/La Joya H.S.) and Juan Davila (Donna, TX/Donna H.S.) were 11th and 16th with times of 18:12.07 and 18:33.68 respectively. Alex Moncivais (Pharr, TX/Texas A&M - Kingsville) came in 22nd with a time of 18:52.13.
The Broncs ended their first meet with 45 points, just eight behind first place Rice University. Coming in third was Sam Houston State with 72 points, followed by Texas A&M - Corpus Christi with 79 points, and UT - San Antonio with 122 points.
"The men did what we needed to do in order to establish ourselves as a team to watch. They had a tremendous day," said head coach Ricky Vaughn.
The women were led by Karla Hernandez (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg H.S.) who finished 20th with a time of 15:56.24. Lorraine Garcia (Laredo, TX/Nixon H.S.) finished in 16:34.08 for 32nd place while Ashley Perez (Falfurrias, TX/Falfurrias H.S.) crossed the finish line in 35th in 16:41.74. Sharon Toroitich (Eldama-Ravin, Kenya/Butler Community College) and Rose Escovedo (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) came in 40th and 41st with times of 16:55.39 and 16:56.56.
Rice won the meet with 24 points, while Texas A&M - Corpus Christi finished with 52, UT - San Antonio with 84, Stephen F. Austin with 94, and Sam Houston State with 141 rounding out the top five.
"Both teams have a lot of inexperience and I think the younger kids did a great job. This was our first meet and for everyone else it was their second. Overall, we had a great meet," added Vaughn.
The Broncs and Lady Broncs will next travel to Stillwater, OK to compete in the Cowboy Jamboree hosted by Oklahoma State University on Saturday (Oct. 1).
UTPA Sports Information
