Longhorn Classic
Kats 4th, 6th at challenging Longhorn Invite - Sam Houston State Bearkats Athletics
1/1/1970 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country, Cross Country
Lined up against premier competitors from several of the state's top cross country squads, Sam Houston State did not get the overall results it wanted, as the men secured fourth (116 points) and the women took sixth (127 points) from the Longhorn Invitational at Balcones-Spicewood Springs Course in Austin.
“The course is probably the most difficult we'll compete on all year and it was our first run against some high-level competition,” head coach Jesse Parker said. “We had some good performances by a few individuals, particularly Chris Speaks and Hannah Tarrant, but as a whole I was a bit disappointed.”
Speaks took second with a mark of 25:23.60 in the 8K among 65 competitors, a nice follow up to his top finish at the Southland Conference Cross Country Preview in the 4K (19:52.5). The junior transfer did not compete last Friday at the Islander Splash.
“A positive was Chris Speaks' performance in the men's race,” Parker said. “He ran a smart race and looked strong over the steeple rolling hills. He didn't have the finishing sprint to win the race, but ran incredibly well. I think he established himself tonight as one of the top competitors in the region.”
Meanwhile, Tarrant took 29th in the 5K at 19:59.90, after posting a 10th place finisher in the 5K (19:32) at Corpus Christi. Olivia Olguin paced the Bearkats in 12th (19:20.00) followed closely by Nichole Aponte (19:22.10). Cassidy Allen took 36th (20:17.80), Aliza Duenes finished 43rd (20:34.70), Meaghen Seales took 52nd (21:04.70) and Miranda Prado was 64th (22:29.10).
The host Longhorns won the event with 23 points, followed by UT-Arlington (71), North Texas (86), UTSA (116), TCU (118), Sam Houston (127) and A&M-Corpus Christi (145).
On the men's side, Colton Stoker, who took the top spot last Friday at the Islander Splash, finished 24th (26:35.70) followed by Grant Buley in 27th (26:40.40) and Evan Arambula in 35th (27:01.10). Alex Hernandez finished 38th (27:12.80), Jeffrey Moore took 42nd (27:23.60), J.T. Bounds went 48th (27:44.40), Joe Sosa was 61st (29:11.00) and Jake Alexander secured 64th (29:51.70).
North Texas bested the Longhorns by the slightest of margins, 40-41, followed by UT-Arlington (70), Sam Houston (116), UTSA (124), A&M-Corpus Christi (133) and TCU (215).
“After good performances last week, we seemed flat and a little lethargic this week,” Parker said. “It was a bit of an awakening for several athletes and will hopefully serve as a learning opportunity. They've been humbled a bit.”
Sam Houston returns to action in two weeks at the Crimson Tide Classic from Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 16. The race will be the final-tune up before the Bearkats host the Southland Conference Championships on Oct. 30 at Kate-Barr Ross Memorial Park.
