ABILENE, Texas – The UT Arlington men's and women's cross country teams both finished strong at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on Friday morning. The women finished third overall in the 6k while the men finished fourth overall in the 8k.
Women's Recap
With 92 points, the women's team finished in third place behind California Baptist and Utah Valley. After a 10th place finish last season, the women jumped seven spots this season.
Leading the way for the Mavericks was
Matro Jepkemboi, who has paced UTA in every meet she's competed in this season. Jepkemboi finished fourth overall with a time of 20:33.5, just shy of surpassing her personal best in the 6k she set two weeks ago at the Arturo Barrios Invitational.
Winnie Kipsang and
Mercy Biwott both finished in the top 20 for the Mavs, with Kipsang placing 19th with a time 21:25.0 and Biwott finishing 20th with a time of 21:26.9. Rounding out the top five finishers for UTA,
Lauren Walls-Portillo checked in at 26th with a time of 22:06.1 while
Isabel Borrego placed 31st overall with a time of 22:25.0.
With their finishes, Jepkemboi was named a First Team All-Conference performer while Kipsang and Biwott were named Second Team All-Conference performers.
Men's Recap
The men finished fourth for the second year in a row, coming in with 152 points and finishing behind California Baptist, Utah Valley, and Southern Utah.
Patrick Estes led the charge for the Mavs, finishing with a time of 24:31.3 and placing 15th overall.
Rogelio Aguirre was right behind Estes, coming in 20th with a time of 24:44.3. Both Estes and Aguirre were named Second Team All-Conference for their performances.
Rounding out the top five finishes for the Mavs was
Josue Granados who came in 39th with a time of 25:23.7,
Jackson Cichon placed 44th with a time of 25:42.6 while Andres Gurrola finished 46th overall with a time of 25:46.1.
UP NEXT
Qualifiers will next race at the NCAA South Central Regional on Friday, November 10, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
– #BuckEm –
FOLLOW ALONG
Follow the UTA track and field and cross country teams on Twitter (@UTAMavsTFXC), Instagram (@UTAMavsTFXC) and Facebook (/UTAMavsTFXC).
