NACOGDOCHES - Led by an all-conference performance from senior Hope Jimenez and a top-15 effort from senior Benson Cheserek, the UTSA women’s and men’s cross country team finished fifth and seventh, respectively, at the Southland Conference Cross Country Championships held Friday morning at Pecan Acres Park.
Jimenez became the fourth different Roadrunner in the past three seasons to earn all-conference honors with an eighth-place showing Friday. She covered the 6,000-meter trail in 23:07, posting the second-highest finish by a UTSA runner since Leticia Cerna placed fourth at the 2002 SLC Championships.
Senior Veronica Silva, who earned all-conference honors last year with a seventh-place finish, crossed in 23:41 for 17th place as UTSA’s No. 2 runner. Freshman Faith Barlow, senior Brianna Mendez and freshman Katy Spence rounded out the top five in 24th (23:51), 45th (25:01) and 47th (25:14), respectively. Freshmen Farrah Moore (53rd, 25:49) and Dana Mecke (58th, 26:08) also competed.
UTSA finished fifth in the team standings for the second consecutive year, scoring 139 points. The Roadrunners have finished in the top five at seven of the last eight SLC meets, including third-place showings in 2002 and 2004 and a runner-up effort in 1999. Since joining the league in 1991, UTSA has captured five team titles and finished in the top five 14 out of 16 seasons.
Lamar won its second straight women’s crown with 46 points as Clerc Koenck, Renee Graham and Amanda King finished first (21:35), second (21:41) and fourth (22:03), respectively. Stephen F. Austin was second with 73 points, followed by Texas-Arlington (99) and Texas State (105). League newcomers Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (143) and Central Arkansas (166) followed UTSA, while Sam Houston State (170), Northwestern State (216) and Southeastern Louisiana (233) rounded out the top 10.
Cheserek finished 14th in the men’s field of 79 runners, clocking 26:07 for 8,000 meters. His 14th-place showing was the highest finish by a Roadrunner in the men’s race since Henry Maruping was fourth in 2002. Shadrack Songok of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was the individual champion in 24:20.
Junior Carlos Perez placed 24th in 26:49 to five UTSA two runners in the top 25. Senior Aaron Castro, junior Adrian Vargas and freshman Corey Vargas rounded out the top five in 39th (27:52), 45th (28:12) and 46th (28:13), respectively. Junior Eric Miller (51st, 28:41) and freshman Bryan Ugochukwu (75th, 31:50) also ran.
In the team standings, UTSA finished seventh for the second straight year with 161 points. Lamar dethroned five-time defending champion Stephen F. Austin for the team title, 37-50. Sam Houston State was third with 87 points, followed by Texas-Arlington and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (122), Texas State (156), UTSA (161), Southeastern Louisiana (230), Central Arkansas (234), McNeese State (286) and Northwestern State (293).
2006 Southland Conference Cross Country Championships
Pecan Acres Park - Nacogdoches, Texas
Women’s 6k
Team Standings
1. Lamar 46; 2. Stephen F. Austin 73; 3. Texas-Arlington 99; 4. Texas State 106; 5. UTSA 139; 6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 143; 7. Central Arkansas 166; 8. Sam Houston State 170; 9. Northwestern State 216; 10. Southeastern Louisiana 233; 11. McNeese State 335; 12. Nicholls State 336.
Individual Top Five (plus UTSA runners)
1. Clerc Koenck, Lamar 21:35; 2. Renee Graham, Lamar 21:41; 3. Jodi Hulett, Texas-Arlington 21:52; 4. Amanda King, Lamar 22:03; 5. Ashley Monteau, Stephen F. Austin 22:36; 8. Hope Jimenez, UTSA 23:07; 17. Veronica Silva, UTSA 23:41; 24. Faith Barlow, UTSA 23:51; 45. Brianna Mendez, UTSA 25:01; 47. Katy Spence, UTSA 25:14; 53. Farrah Moore, UTSA 25:49; 58. Dana Mecke, UTSA 26:08.
Men’s 8k
Team Standings
1. Lamar 37; 2. Stephen F. Austin 50; 3. Sam Houston State 87; T-4. Texas-Arlington 122; T-4. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 122; 6. Texas State 156; 7. UTSA 161; 8. Southeastern Louisiana 230; 9. Central Arkansas 234; 10. McNeese State 286; 11. Northwestern State 293.
Individual Top Five (plus UTSA runners)
1. Shadrack Songok, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 24:20; 2. Samuel Kosgei, Lamar 24:24; 3. Francis Kasagule, Lamar 24:30; 4. Morten Munkholm, Sam Houston State 25:17; 5. Frank Bwambale, Lamar 25:21; 14. Benson Cheserek, UTSA 26:07; 24. Carlos Perez, UTSA 26:49; 39. Aaron Castro, UTSA 27:52; 45. Adrian Vargas, UTSA 28:12; 46. Corey Vargas, UTSA 28:13; 51. Eric Miller, UTSA 28:41; 75. Bryan Ugochukwu, UTSA 31:50.