Texas Border Business
LIVE OAK – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men’s and women’s cross country teams opened the 2020-21 cross country season with 11 student-athletes making their collegiate debuts and two recording personal records on Friday at the UIW Invitational at Live Oak Main City Park.
Junior Edinburg North alum Tristan Pena paced the men’s team with a career-best 8K time of 24:45 to finish in seventh out of 60, 20 seconds ahead of eight place finisher and junior Abraham Chirchir. Sophomore McAllen Memorial alum Juan Zamora also set a PR, finishing in a time of 29:13.
Four runners on the men’s teams made their collegiate debuts, with freshman Ricardo Garcia finishing in 18thwith a time of 25:56. Freshman Edcouch-Elsa alum Dominik Medrano placed 29th with a time of 26:30. Freshman Vela alum Jeremy Nino came in 33rd with a time of 26:47. Freshman Edcouch-Elsa alum Albino Rodriguez finished 49th with a time of 28:04.
On the women’s side, seven of the nine competitors made their collegiate debuts, led by freshman Samantha Gonzalez, who finished 16th out of 56 with a time of 22:35. Freshman Weslaco alum Aaliyah Garza placed 33rdwith a time of 23:41. Freshman Sharyland alum Andrea Gallardo came in 43rd with a time of 24:41. Freshman Porter alum Estrella Medellin finished 47th with a time of 25:09. Freshman Ana Hernandez placed 49th with a time of 25:19. Freshman Nikki Rowe alum Janie Delgado came in 54th with a time of 26:40. Freshman Lyford alum Dulce Rodriguez finished 55th with a time of 26:43.
As teams, the men placed fourth out of seven with 67 points while the women came in sixth out of seven with 145 points. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi won the men’s event with 50 points and placed sixth in the women’s event with 94 points to sweep the points in the South Texas Showdown, presented by Navy Army Community Credit Union.
UTRGV’s lead over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the showdown standings is now 12-9.
UTRGV is back in action on Feb. 27 at the Western Athletic Conference Championships, hosted by Seattle U.
The next event of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Navy Army Community Credit Union, is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m., when the women’s soccer team visits Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
UTRGV Men’s Cross Country Results (8K)
| Place | Runner | Time | Points |
| 7. | Tristan Pena | 24:45 | 6 |
| 8. | Abraham Chirchir | 25:05 | 7 |
| 16. | Alex Munoz | 25:51 | 13 |
| 18. | Ricardo Garcia | 25:56 | 15 |
| 29. | Dominik Medrano | 26:30 | 26 |
| 33. | Jeremy Nino | 26:47 | 30 |
| 40. | Edward Ramos | 27:19 | 35 |
| 49. | Albino Rodriguez | 28:04 | |
| 54. | Juan Zamora | 29:13 |
Men’s Team Results
| 1. | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 50 |
| 2. | Central Arkansas | 58 |
| 3. | Abilene Christian | 62 |
| 4. | UTRGV | 67 |
| 5. | Tarleton | 140 |
| 6. | Trinity | 157 |
| 7. | Our Lady of the Lake | 170 |
UTRGV Women’s Cross Country Results (6K)
| Place | Runner | Time | Points |
| 16. | Samantha Gonzalez | 22:35 | 15 |
| 27. | Anahi Romo | 23:23 | 25 |
| 33. | Aaliyah Garza | 23:41 | 30 |
| 43. | Andrea Gallardo | 24:41 | 37 |
| 44. | Alma Villanueva | 24:50 | 38 |
| 47. | Estrella Medellin | 25:09 | 39 |
| 49. | Ana Hernandez | 25:19 | 41 |
| 54. | Janie Delgado | 26:40 | |
| 55. | Dulce Rodriguez | 26:43 |
Women’s Team Results
| 1. | Abilene Christian | 53 |
| 2. | Central Arkansas | 63 |
| 3. | Incarnate Word | 64 |
| 4. | Trinity | 92 |
| 5. | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 94 |
| 6. | UTRGV | 145 |
| 7. | Tarleton | 169 |
