| Nov. 1, 2004
Contact: Rick Nixon (210) 458-4551
UTSA women finish third, men ninth at 2004 Southland Conference Cross Country Championships
Complete Results
BEAUMONT, Texas - Led by all-conference performances from juniors Ashley McDonald (San Antonio, Texas/East Central) and Rita Lambert (San Antonio, Texas/MacArthur), the UTSA women’s cross country team finished third at the 2004 Southland Conference Cross Country Championships on a rainy Monday morning at Idylwild Golf Club. The Roadrunner men finished ninth on the heels of a 25th-place showing from freshman Jaziel Crisostomo (Austin, Texas/Westlake).
McDonald and Lambert paced the women, finishing eighth and ninth, respectively, to earn all-SLC accolades for finishing in the top 10. McDonald covered the 6,000-meter loop in 22:06, while Lambert was close behind in 22:10. Senior transfer Katherine King (San Antonio, Texas/Texas A&M) was UTSA’s No. 3 finisher, placing 19th in 22:45. Freshman Ann Marie Hollowell (Portland, Texas/Gregory-Portland) and junior Meghan Chance (San Antonio, Texas/Reagan) rounded out the top five in 29th (23:17) and 33rd (23:21), respectively.
Sophomore Karilyn Petty (Fredericksburg, Texas) and sophomore Briana Mendez (Austin, Texas/Crockett) also competed, finishing 34th (23:32) and 35th (23:37). Ashley Monteau of SFA was the overall winner in 20:25.
“We really gave our all today,” McDonald said. “Everybody left their heart on the course. Our goal was to be in the top three if everyone had a good race, and I feel everybody had a good race. Coach gave us a strategy for everyone to run together and have a continuous rope. We all held on to that rope today.”
In the team standings, UTSA scored 98 points for third behind Lamar (37) and Stephen F. Austin (49). The third-place finish equaled the women’s highest conference finish since a runner-up showing in 1999.
“I am really pleased with the women’s performance,” head coach Rose Monday said. “We have been running strong and coming on solid this season. Ashley finishing eighth and earning all-conference was fantastic. Rita ran a huge PR, while our other girls were solid. I’m very proud of finishing third and placing two in the top 10.”
Crisostomo covered the men’s 8k trail in 25:57 for 25th place to lead the men. Senior Henry Maruping (Johannesburg, South Africa) and freshman Nick Perez (San Antonio, Texas/Madison) finished 37th (26:37) and 38th (26:38), respectively, while freshmen Michael Schwartz (Keller, Texas) and Eric Miller (Seguin, Texas) rounded out the scoring in 45th (26:49) and 48th (26:55).
Freshman Dustin Riedel (Fredericksburg, Texas) and sophomore Adrian Vargas (Del Rio, Texas) also competed, placing 50th (27:08) and 51st (27:13), respectively. Maya Aden of Southeastern Louisiana won the men’s race in 24:09.
“I feel the team gave our best under these conditions,” Crisostomo said. “This is our first time running in the rain this year. Today gave me the experience of what to expect over the next three years. I hope next year we can do better. That’s what we all hope for.”
The men took ninth with 193 points in a competitive team race where just 49 points separated fourth place Texas State (144) and UTSA. SFA won with 32 points, followed by Sam Houston State (50) and Lamar (116).
“Every one of the guys had a season-best race by a lot today,” Monday said. “I told them to get out in the top 10, because that’s the only way we can contend for conference in the future, and to not get to the end and wish they had run faster. They did what I told them to do and I’m happy with their performance today.
“I’m looking forward to next year and having most of the team back. I’ve seen where they came from two months ago and today’s performance was incredible on both sides.”
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