SAN ANTONIO – Midway through the women's 6K race in the Our Lady of the Lake Cross Country Invite Saturday at Windcrest Golf Club, spectators started talking about the young woman at the front of the pack.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) senior
Samantha Gonzalez got everyone's attention as she earned the first-place finish, crushing her previous 6K personal best by one minute and a half and finishing in 20:48.0. Gonzalez won by nearly 30 seconds as she led the Vaqueros women to their first team win since 1997.
"I've been calling it the Mendoza Magic all year," head track & field/cross country coach
Shareese Hicks said, giving credit to assistant distance coach
Ricardo Mendoza. "He came in with great energy, wonderful experience, and as an alumni, he comes in with serious passion. Walking away with this win, the chemistry of the team has been outstanding. They've worked so hard for so long and to finally see the fruits of their labor, I'm just so happy for these young ladies and really excited looking toward the future going into Southland Conference Championships. We're ready to keep the momentum going."
Four of UTRGV's five scored runners finished in the top-10. Junior PSJA High alum
Faith Cruz took fourth in 21:32.0 and junior
Lilliana Guerrero was right behind to take fifth in 21:55.4, overtaking another runner in the final stretch of the race. Sophomore
Kailey Salazar was seventh in 21:56.3 and senior Brownsville Porter alum
Estrella Medellin rounded out the scoring with an 11
th place finish in 22:05.0.
Freshman Santa Maria alum
Mia Picazo was 16
th in 22:43.0. Senior Sharyland alum
Ana Hernandez took 32
nd in 23:38.5 and junior Lasara alum
Selissa Gonzales finished 35
th in 23:49.5.
UTRGV scored 24 points in the first-place finish. Midwestern State (42) and Angelo State (78) rounded out the top three. Cruz, Salazar, Medellin and Gonzales all ran personal records.
The men's team had a solid outing, too, taking second in the team standings with 66 points. Texas A&M-International won the men's title with 19 points.
Junior
Abraham Morales and sophomore McAllen Rowe alum
Kevin Cardenas led the men's team with a pair of top-10 finishes in the 8K race. Morales was fifth in 25:27.4 and Cardenas took seventh in 25:59.8 – both personal bests.
Sophomore
Mario Cantarero (26:18.3) was 11
th, freshman
Mario Guzman (27:00.0) took 19
th, and freshman Weslaco East alum
Eric Davis (27:23.5) finished 26
th to round out the scoring. Freshman Edinburg Vela alum
Ethan De Leon was 33
rd in 27:47.3. Cantarero also notched a new PR.
Up next for UTRGV is the Southland Conference Championship in New Orleans on Nov. 1.
UTRGV Individual Results
Women's 6K
1.
Samantha Gonzalez, 20:48.0
4.
Faith Cruz, 21:32.0
5.
Lilliana Guerrero, 21:55.4
7.
Kailey Salazar, 21:56.3
11.
Estrella Medellin, 22:05.0
16.
Mia Picazo, 22:43.0
32.
Ana Hernandez, 23:38.5
35.
Selissa Gonzales, 23:49.5
Men's 8K
5.
Abraham Morales, 25:27.4
7.
Kevin Cardenas, 25:59.8
11.
Mario Cantarero, 26:18.3
19.
Mario Guzman, 27:00.0
26.
Eric Davis, 27:23.5
33.
Ethan De Leon, 27:47.3
Women's Team Standings
1. UTRGV, 24 points
2. Midwestern State, 42
3. Angelo State, 78
4. Trinity (TX), 103
5. OLLU, 154
6. Texas A&M-International, 189
7. St. Thomas (TX), 195
8. Texas Lutheran, 201
9. Schreiner, 233
Men's Team Standings
1. Texas A&M-International, 19 points
2. UTRGV, 66
3. St. Thomas (TX), 73
4. OLLU, 85
5. Angelo State, 154
6. Trinity (TX), 154
7. Texas Lutheran, 156
8. Hardin-Simmons, 225
9. Schreiner, 249
Support UTRGV Cross Country |
Become a Fan on Facebook |
Follow us on Twitter |
Follow us on Instagram |
Follow us on YouTube
