SAN ANTONIO – UTSA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox announced on Friday that the Roadrunners and first-year cross country coach Harrison Tillman will be joined this fall by local distance runner Israel Cuellar.
"We’re excited to be able to build on the growth of local talent and help Israel reach his potential in the classroom and in competition,” Fox said.
Joining the Roadrunners from San Antonio’s Cornerstone Christian Schools, Cuellar is a middle distance and cross country runner for the Warriors.
In 2024, Cuellar won the 800m at the USATF Texas Southern Association Junior Olympics, moving on to the Region 12 Junior Olympic Championships in Seguin, where he was the winner and set a new career mark at 1:54.53. He topped the 1,500-meter at both meets, advancing to the National Junior Olympics Championships in College Station, where he logged a career-best 4:01.43 to finish fourth.
Last outdoor season, Cuellar finished eighth at the 9th Annual TTFCA Meet of Champions and topped the field at the 93rd Annual Border Olympics in the 800-meter, recording a top season time of 1:56.84. He also earned fourth on a 4:29.03 timing in the 1,600-meter at the Border Olympics. He was invited to compete in the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston earlier this year, running a 1:56.41 to finish eighth in the field. Last indoor season, Cuellar was fifth in the 800m on an indoor-best 1:56.22 at the 2025 Texas High School Indoor Championship in College Station. During the 2024 cross country season for CCS, Cuellar recorded a career-best 16:30.97 in the 5k.
Earlier in his career, Cornerstone competed in the TCAF and Cuellar saw great success with 2022 Regional and State bronze medals in the 3,200-meter, earning silver in the 5k at the 2022 TCAF State Cross Country Championships.
- UTSA -