SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA men’s and women’s cross country teams will kick off their 2024 season on Friday, Sept. 13, with an 8 a.m. start, running locally at the Windcrest Golf Club (8600 Midcrown Dr. Windcrest, TX 78239) in the UIW Invitational.
Running a mostly flat course with some small rolling hills featuring an all-grass path with a few concrete cart path crossings, the men will open competition at 8 a.m. with a 4-mile race, followed at 8:40 a.m. by the women’s 5k. The Roadrunners will be competing against Northern Colorado, Our Lady of the Lake, St. Edwards, Texas A&M International, Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas State, Trinity (TX), UT Rio Grande Valley and host UIW. Results will be available after each race at chuckscore.com.
OJ Ruiz is the top returning men’s runner from a year ago with an 8k career mark at 25:10.2. Also back this season from 2023 are Victor Charo, Chuey Hernandez, Dominick Landin, Idol Ramon and AJ Tyler will join the cross country squad after running middle distance last spring. The men add five newcomers to the group, Gabe Lopez, Diego Ramirez, Cortlin Salge, Gabe Tubbs and Carter Williams.
Leading the women’s squad returners are Jadelyn Malesich (18:33.7 career 5k) and senior Brooke Veltman (18:45.3 career 5k), along with returners Sidney Bravo, Chante Dixon, Savannah Lopez, Itzel Rojo, Katie Wise and first-time XC runner Abby Barraza. The Roadrunners have added a large group of newcomers for the women, including Estefania Colchado, Mariella Gadberry, Jadyn Gonzales, Megan Groeschel, Lisa Pelletier, Emma Wallace and Aubry Ybarra.
Up next, UTSA will travel to the Golden State on Sept. 28 for the Cougar Challenge in San Marcos, California.
-UTSA-