Sept.2, 2006

The University of Texas-Pan American men's and women's cross country programs each put together a strong showing in their first meet of the season at the Bear Relays hosted by Baylor University in Waco, TX.

The sophomore team of Juan Davila (Donna, TX/Donna H.S.) and Angel Ramirez (Mission, TX/Mission H.S.) finished the 12,000-meter relay race in ninth place with a time of 39:40.52 followed by a pack of Broncs who crossed the finish line in17th, 18th and 19th-places.

"Juan had been hurt a good deal of last year, and he's recovered a bit of his fitness. Angel, who did a really good job last spring in track and field, still has a lot to prove in cross country. Those two averaged under ten minutes for 3,000-meters twice and did a really solid job," said assistant cross country coach Brian Cunningham.

J.J. Hernandez (San Juan, TX/PSJA North H.S.) and Gil Castillo (Brownsville, TX/Hanna H.S.) finished the race with a time of 42:42.04 in 17th place trailed by the team of Gilroy Martinez and Alex Moncivais (Pharr, TX/Texas A&M-Kingsville) who finished in 18th place with a time of 43:25.45. The team of Omar Doria (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) and Luis Hernandez (San Juan, TX/PSJA North H.S.) finished in 19th place with a time of 44:41.72.

On the women's side, the team of Karla Hernandez (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg H.S.) and Rose Escovedo (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) led all UTPA teams as they crossed the finish line in 13th place with a time of 31:20.11.

"Karla and Rose did a fantastic job and it proves that their fitness levels are very high and we're very far beyond where we were last year at this time," added Cunningham.

Newcomer Carolina Izaguirre (Brownsville, TX/Hanna H.S.) and senior Deanah Chavez (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg H.S.) finished in 18th place at a time of 32:36.10 while the tandem of Ashley Perez (Falfurrias, TX/Falfurrias H.S.) and Vanessa Rodriguez (Harlingen, TX/Harlingen H.S.) followed seconds behind, in 19th place, with a time of 32:41.63. The team of Shardae Bey (Houston, TX/Elsik H.S.) and Evelyn Vega finished with a time of 36:06.34 in 26th place.

Baylor dominated the event as both men's and women's teams finished in first place in their divisions. In the men's division, Baylor teams took four of the top five spots, and women's teams took the top two places in their division.

Both UTPA men's and women's teams look to build on this performance as they travel to College Station, TX, to compete in the Texas A&M Invitational hosted by Texas A&M University on Saturday (Sept. 16).

UTPA Sports Information