Aug. 29, 2007

The University of Texas-Pan American men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2007 season on Friday (Aug. 31) when the Broncs and Lady Broncs travel to Corpus Christi, TX to participate in the Corpus Relays hosted by Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

The start of the 2007 season has the Broncs and Lady Broncs traveling to West Guth Park in Corpus Christi, TX where they will match-up against teams from the Southland Conference such as UTSA, UT Arlington, and Texas State.

"I think we are way ahead of where we were at last year," said assitant men's and women's cross country coach Huge Cervantes. "Right now our practices have been going really good. Overall I think we are going to have a great meet."

Leading the way for on the men's side will be junior's Luis Nava (La Joya, TX/La Joya H.S.) and J.J. Hernandez (San Juan, TX/PSJA North H.S.), who were two of the programs top runners in the 2006 season.

The biggest threat that the Broncs will face from the Islanders is two-time All-American Shadrack Songok, who finished 19th overall in the 10,000-meter race in a time of 31:23 at the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

"I take this as a tune-up for what is going to come. Our real test will come later on in the season. It will be a good hard practice but we still got to get out there and give it all we have. This meet is a chance for us to build for the meets that we have set to come," said Cervantes.

The Lady Broncs will have tough competition coming from Texas State's two-top runners, junior Tenley Determan and sophomore Whitney Perkins, who were named to the 10 member 2006 All-Southland Conference Women's Cross Country Team.

The Corpus Christi Relays will be held at West Guth Park during the morning hours on Friday (Aug. 31).

UTPA Sports Information