BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's and women's cross country teams will be competing in the South Texas Showdown presented by Rally Credit Union Friday at the Arturo Barrios Invitational. 
 
The Vaqueros will be going head-to-head against rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (AMCC) for points in the South Texas Showdown standings, which UTRGV currently leads 11.5-1.5 with all volleyball and women's soccer competitions completed. Last year, the men's cross country team defeated AMCC at this same meet to aid UTRGV's first win in the showdown since 2018-19. 
 
Along with UTRGV, AMCC and host Texas A&M, there will be 39 other teams racing at the Watts Cross Country Course. The men will compete first, taking on an 8K race starting at 8:30 a.m. The women's 6K race is scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. 
 
The Vaqueros will get a look at several Western Athletic Conference (WAC) teams ahead of the WAC Championships coming up in two weeks, including Utah Valley's nationally ranked women's squad (No. 24), Stephen F. Austin and UT Arlington. Other participating schools include Arkansas State, Baylor, Boston College, Connecticut, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Tech, Houston, Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Indiana, Kennesaw State, Lamar, Louisiana, Louisville, LSU, Marshall, McNeese State, New Mexico State, Nicholls State, North Texas, Ohio State (women's squad receiving votes), Oklahoma, Rice, SMU, South Dakota State, Texas A&M Texarkana, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, Toledo, Tulane, UCF, UCLA, UTEP, UTSA and Youngstown State. 
 
Last time out, UTRGV's men's squad placed fifth at the UIW Invitational and the women's squad was eighth. Senior Ricardo Garcia and junior Rio Grande City alum Alex Canales led the men's team with top-20 finishes in the 8K race, with Canales notching a new personal record. Junior Samantha Gonzalez paced the women's team in a 6K race, along with sophomore PSJA High alum Faith Cruz and senior Brownsville Porter alum Estrella Medellin. 
 
Saturday's race is the last non-conference competition on the schedule for the Vaqueros and will give them a good chance to battle a busy starting line and push themselves through a tough course. 

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