RELATED LINKSFinal results
NACOGDOCHES — Seniors Albert Cardenas and Cole Reveal both placed in the top five to help lead UTSA to its best finish in 14 years at Monday's Southland Conference Championships.
Cardenas earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive year following his third-place performance. The Converse native covered the Piney Woods Country Club 8,000-meter loop in 24:56.3 and he posted the best finish by a Roadrunner at the league meet since Philo Saunders' third-place effort in 1998.
Meanwhile, Reveal also garnered all-conference accolades for the second year in a row after finishing two spots behind his fellow fourth-year teammate in 25:05.1.
Senior Brandon Chiuminetta (25:30.7) just missed the top 10 with his 11th-place showing and junior Daniel Balbontin (18th/25:52.1) and redshirt freshman Mike Medrano (28th/26:20.1) rounded out UTSA's scorers.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Patrick Kimeli successfully defended his individual crown in 24:50.6.
"I know the guys are disappointed that they didn't win the conference title, but it doesn't take away from the great season they've had," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox said. "(Cross country coach) Scott (Slade) has done a tremendous job with this group and I want to thank the senior class for buying into the belief that we can be an outstanding program. I can't thank them enough for what they've accomplished the last four years."
Lamar captured its sixth consecutive Southland Championship with 29 points. The Roadrunners scored 63, which was good for their best showing since winning the circuit's 1997 title.
UTSA returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 12, when it travels to Waco for the NCAA South Central Regional.