2005
Cross Country - Gandara made his first NCAA Division I National Championships this past season where he placed 206th overall... finished 14th overall at the NCAA Division I South Central Regional Championships with a time of 31:42.00, which was the 10th fastest time in program history... earned All-Region honors at that meet... posted a seventh-place finish at the Rice Invitational with a time of 17:49.38 in the 6,000 meters... was 18th overall with a time of 26:03 in the 8,000 meters at the Cowboy Jamboree... Outdoor - The UTPA junior finished second overall in the 5,000 meters with a time of 8:59.36 at the Border Olympics... was third in the 10,000 meters at the Texas Relays with a time of 31:07.32.
2004
Outdoor - Gandara placed third at the Border Olympics, finishing with a time of 15:41.73 in the 5,000 meters... Indoor - The UTPA junior concluded his first indoor season by recording two top-three finishes... claimed the Houston / RunSport All-Comers title in the 5,000 meters, recording a time of 15:26.73... Cross Country - Gandara exploded onto the scene in his first season with the Broncs[apos] cross country team... named the UTPA Male Newcomer of the Year at the end of the year athletic banquet... selected as the 2004 Independent Cross Country Runner of the Year... earned first team All-Independent honors... led from start to finish before capturing the individual Independent Championship at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, recording a 8,000-meter time of 25:38... won the Texas State Invitational in his debut race with the Broncs, finishing the 8,000 meters in 27:01... finished 13th out of 185 runners at the Auburn Invitational where his time was 25:38.65 during the 8,000-meter race... earned Independent Runner of the Week honors following his performance at the Auburn Invitational... suffered an injury prior to the NCAA Division I South Central Regional Championships, but still managed to be the Broncs[apos] top performer at that meet... Classroom - Gandara was a member of the Bronc Pride 3.0 Club and earned Dean[apos]s List Second Honors during the spring semester.
Pratt Community College - Gandara was an eight-time NJCAA All-American at Pratt Community College... holds the program records for the 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters... finished third at the NJCAA Track and Field National Championships as a freshman and sophomore in the 10,000 meters... placed fourth at the NJCAA Cross Country National Championships during his sophomore season.
High School
A product of Mission High School, Gandara was a four-time district champion... finished third in the cross country regional meet during his senior season... earned team MVP honors on two occasions along with Rookie of the Year laurels.
Off the Track
Gandara is the son of Rita Alaniz... has one brother - Andy - and three sisters - Esmer, Eva and Mary... was born on Oct. 11, 1982... majoring in kinesiology with a minor in Spanish.