SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's and women's cross country teams will open their season at the UIW Invitational Saturday, which will be held at Windcrest Golf Club.

The men will run an 8k starting at 8 a.m., and the women will run a 5K at 8:40 a.m. The course is described as mostly flat with a few small, rolling hills and is all grass. It is the eighth consecutive season that UTRGV will run at the event.

Last season was one of the best in program history for UTRGV cross country, and as the Vaqueros prepare to open a new season, head coach Shareese Hicks says the challenge now is not resting on that success but earning it all over again.

"Last season showed our student-athletes what is possible when they believe in the vision, trust their training and compete for one another," Hicks said. "We are proud of what we accomplished, but we also understand that we cannot live off last year's success. We have to earn it again. Our focus is on raising our standard through consistency, accountability and attention to detail every day."

The women's team brings back two of three all-conference selections from last season in Southland Conference(SLC) Newcomer of the Year N Vanee Anchike and senior Kailey Salazar. Anchike took ninth at the at the SLC Championships and helped the team to a third-place finish. Salazar finished 14^th at the SLC Championships and joined Anchike at the NCAA South Central Regionals last season.

For the men, Nirmit Dahiya returns to the squad after a strong showing in 2025. Dahiya got faster as the year went on, recording a personal-best time of 24:08.00 in the SLC Championships. Senior Kevin Cardenas and Sophomore Roehl Rodriguez join Dahiya on the 2026 campaign with improvement on the mind.

A Familiar Course, A Fresh Test

The Vaqueros return to a course they know well to open the season, and Hicks believes that familiarity gives her squad an edge heading into the year.
"The familiarity definitely helps. Our returners understand the course, the competition and how the meet typically unfolds," Hicks said. "That allows them to prepare with confidence and help our newcomers know what to expect. Ultimately, though, we still have to execute our race plan and compete with discipline."

Rodriguez had his best finish last season at the UIW Invitational, finishing 22^nd in the field. On the women's side, Mia Picazo shined at the invitational last season, earning a top 15 finish and running her best time of the season, 18:28.20.

Hicks has stressed that the opening meet sets the tone for the season to come, and she has a clear picture of what she wants to see out of the gate.

"I want to see toughness, discipline and a willingness to compete for the person beside you," Hicks said. "The first meet gives us an opportunity to establish our identity and see where we are as a team. We are not expecting perfection this early, but we do expect great effort, strong communication and a competitive mindset from start to finish."

Ready for Race Day

Looking ahead to this season, Hicks has made her expectations clear for a program looking to build.

"Our goal is to continue elevating the standard of our entire program," Hicks said. "We want to compete for championships, improve throughout the season and represent UTRGV with pride in competition, in the classroom and in the community. We expect our student-athletes to be disciplined, accountable and committed to doing the little things that lead to success."

After months of preparation, Hicks is eager to see her team finally back on the course.

"I am extremely excited. There is nothing like seeing the work our student-athletes have put in come together on race day," Hicks said. "They have been preparing, supporting one another and embracing the process. Now they get the opportunity to put on the UTRGV uniform, compete together and show the progress they have made."

Support UTRGV Cross Country | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube