MOBILE, Ala. – For the fourth time in six years as a league member, the UTA men's cross country team leaves the conference meet as the Sun Belt Conference champions.
 
The Mavericks came out on top of the 10-team field on Saturday morning in Mobile, Ala., by totaling 66 points. With 76 points, Appalachian State finished as the runner up, while Troy (90) was third and Coastal Carolina (92) fourth. Scoring margins between the top few spots were narrow at each checkpoint throughout the race.
 
"This team battled more adversity than any team I have ever coached," UTA coach John Sauerhage said. "They were a band of brothers today and they won this most of all for each other. We did what we needed to do."
 
Since joining the league in 2013, the team has claimed wins in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018. It is the eighth conference title ever for the men's cross country program, and its fifth in seven years when adding in the 2012 Western Athletic Conference title.
 
It was the sixth men's cross country title under Sauerhage. In addition, it gives him 32 total team championships between men's and women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track.
 
The team placed three runners in the top 10, including two in the top five. Senior Michael Guerrero (third) and junior Justin Domangue (fourth) crossed side-by-side in 24:48.4. Sophomore Jared Lautenslager was 10th with an 8k time of 25:32.6.
 
Fellow sophomores Cole Klashinsky and Eliseo Rodriguez closed out the team's scoring. Klashinsky took 18th in 25:52.5, while Rodriguez was 31st (26:24.2).
 
For their efforts, Guerrero and Domangue were named first-team all-conference, while Lautenslager was tabbed to the second team. Sauerhage was named Sun Belt Conference Men's Coach of the Year, his 32nd career coaching honor.
 
The women's team placed 10th among 12 schools with 263 points. Sophomore Madeleine Rowe returned from injury to lead the team, placing 41st with a 5k time of 19:17.6. Freshman Valeria Diaz was the next Maverick across the line, taking 47th (19:21.7).
 
UTA's other point scorers were: Bailey Balmer (51st, 19:42.1), Macey Beazley (59th, 20:07.1) and Chantal Van Der Westhuizen (65th, 20:30.8)
 
The Mavericks are next in action at the NCAA South Central Regional in College Station, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 9.
 
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