LIVE OAK, Texas – The UT Arlington cross country teams opened up the 2021 campaign with a pair of second-place finishes at the UIW Twilight on Friday evening at Live Oak City Park. 

The women finished with 56 points, outscoring notable Sun Belt opponent Texas State by 77 points, while the men finished with 58 points, outpacing the Bobcats by 32 points.

"It was a great learning experience for both teams to open up the season," said Head Coach John Sauerhage. "I am very pleased with the competitive effort and look forward to seeing what we can build from here moving forward."

With a sense of normalcy returning to the cross-country schedule, the women got the event started and set the pace. Freshman Anne Arntsen began her college career with a bang, finishing second overall with a time of 14:06.

She was one of four top 10 finishes as junior Mathilde Ruud placed fourth with a time of 14:51. Senior Valeria Diaz-Gonzales was sixth at 14:57, while freshman Claire Compher got her college career off to a great start, placing seventh with a time of 15:02.

Senior Madeleine Rowe rounded the scorer's out with a time of 17:01.

On the men's side, sophomore Patrick Estes put together a great race in the 6k as he placed third with a time of 18:40. Freshman Jackson Cichon started his collegiate career with a seventh-place finish and a time of 18:59.

Rounding out the scoring were freshman Alfredo Corona with a time of 19:18 and a 12th place finish, junior Marquentin Barnes with a time of 19:25 and a 16th place finish, and freshman Sebastian Calderon with a time of 19:32 and a 20th place finish. Junior Tyler Rodriguez added the sixth sub-20 minute time at 19:45, and a 22nd place finish.

The Mavs will return to action next Saturday as they will host the UTA Season Opener at Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake on Saturday, Sept. 11.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
Women
1) Incarnate Word: 31
2) UT Arlington: 56
3) Trinity (Texas): 67
4) UT-Rio Grande Valley: 101
5) Texas State: 144
6) UTSA: 145
7) Our Lady of the Lake: 164 

Men
1) Incarnate Word: 35
2) UT Arlington: 58
3) UT-Rio Grande Valley: 74
4) Texas State: 90
5) Trinity (Texas): 118
6) UTSA: 145
7) Our Lady of the Lake: 195 

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