COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's and men's cross-country teams competed Friday in the NCAA South Central Regional, where senior N Vanee Anchike set a program record in the 6K.
 
The Vaqueros women scored 382 points to finish 14th out of 25 scoring teams, matching last year's 14th-place finish at the regional meet. Three UTRGV runners posted times among the 11 fastest 6Ks in program history.
 
Anchike led the Vaqueros by finishing 41st in 20:41.1, a new program record in the 6K. Senior Kailey Salazar followed in 56th with a time of 20:53.4, the third-best 6K in program history. Freshman Harlingen South alum Jessica De Leon was 68th in 21:16.6, the 11th-best time in program history. Junior Santa Maria alum Mia Picazo (21:29.0) and freshman Economedes alum Maddison Surita (22:47.5) rounded out the scoring by finishing 86th and 148th, respectively.
 
The UTRGV men's team finished 22nd out of 23 scoring teams with 574 points. Senior McAllen Rowe alum Kevin Cardenas led the way, finishing 99th in a 10K personal best of 32:34.2. That lowered his previous best of 33:37.7 by more than a minute. Sophomore McAllen Memorial alum Roehl Rodriguez was 115th in 33:22.1, also a personal best, improving on his 33:50.5 from a year ago. Freshmen Brock Morales (124th, 33:49.3), Vanguard Rembrandt alum Gael Gonzalez (137th, 34:47.2) and PSJA Memorial alum Diego Piña (146th, 35:56.2) rounded out the scoring in their collegiate 10K debuts after the men moved up from 8K.
 
Arkansas won the women's team title with 51 points, and SMU took second to secure the automatic bids to the NCAA Championships. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Elizabeth Khatevi won the women's race in 18:58.2. On the men's side, Tulane edged Arkansas 44-48 for the team title with both securing automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, with Arkansas' Nick Busienei winning the individual race in 28:57.1.
 
UTRGV Individual Results
Women's 6K
41. N Vanee Anchike, 20:41.1
· Program record
56. Kailey Salazar, 20:53.4
· 3rd in program history
68. Jessica De Leon, 21:16.6
· 11th in program history
86. Mia Picazo, 21:29.0
148. Maddison Surita, 22:47.5
 
Men's 10K
99. Kevin Cardenas, 32:34.2
115. Roehl Rodriguez, 33:22.1
124. Brock Morales, 33:49.3
137. Gael Gonzalez, 34:47.2
146. Diego Piña, 35:56.2
 
Women's Team Standings
1. Arkansas, 51 points
2. SMU, 109
3. Stephen F. Austin, 113
4. Tulane, 115
5. Texas A&M, 155
6. LSU, 197
7. Texas, 270
8. TCU, 296
9. Houston, 304
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 313
11. Baylor, 332
12. Louisiana, 345
13. Houston Christian, 365
14. UTRGV, 382
15. UT Arlington, 409
16. Texas State, 449
17. Incarnate Word, 480
18. McNeese State, 484
19. Arkansas State, 488
20. Rice, 493
21. Lamar, 498
22. Central Arkansas, 534
23. UTSA, 563
24. Nicholls State, 659
25. Tarleton State, 703
 
Men's Team Standings
1. Tulane, 44 points
2. Arkansas, 48
3. Stephen F. Austin, 104
4. Texas A&M, 126
5. TCU, 160
6. Incarnate Word, 213
7. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 240
8. McNeese State, 247
9. Houston, 256
10. Rice, 291
11. Texas, 294
12. Texas State, 370
13. UTSA, 379
14. ULM, 397
15. Arkansas State, 419
16. North Texas, 420
17. Lamar, 431
18. Central Arkansas, 459
19. Houston Christian, 480
20. Tarleton State, 500
21. LSU, 541
22. UTRGV, 574
23. Nicholls State, 655                                                                      
 
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