Oct. 31, 2009
At the second running of the Great West Conference Championship, both The University of Texas-Pan American men's and women's cross country programs placed fifth this Saturday (Oct. 31) morning at the Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, NY.
M. Angel Ramirez was the men's top performer placing ninth and clocking a time of 26:49.50 in the 8K race. Graduate student Omar Doria trailed Ramirez almost by a minute as he marked a time of 27:33.27 placing 23rd.
Freshman Frank Garcia crossed the finish line in a time of 27:46.00 placing him 27th, while Gilroy Martinez Jr. and Rolando Vela crossed the finish line behind Garcia with times of 27:54.44 and 27:55.54, respectively for 28th and 29th place finishes.
Andrew Lopez posted a time of 28:32.75 for a 41st place finish and Wally Gonzalez placed 45th for a time of 29:01.87.
As predicted, Utah Valley took the team title with NJIT's Christian Baumbach taking the individual title. Seattle took the runner up spot with South Dakota and NJIT taking the third and fourth spot in the team rankings.
"Seems like all season we've been running just to our expectation level and not going out there and running to the next level," said head cross country coach Dave Hartman. "Angel ran in the top-10 and to the best of his capabilities. The running for the second through sixth spot (team rankings) could have been anybody's race with the tight group running."
On the women's side, Judith Chumba was the Lady Broncs top performer as she placed 12th clocking in a time of 23:47.61 in the 6K race. Seven spots behind Chumba was freshman Hilda Galloso as she placed 19th with a time of 24:48.00.
Cinthia Adame crossed the finish line in a time of 25:04.39 for a 22nd place finish. Diana Galloso posted a time of 25:53.54 for a 30th place finish. Mekka Edwards-White and Shayna Parker finish seconds behind one another as Edwards-White clocked a time of 27:06.96 and Parker a time of 27:08.13 for 39th and 40th place finishes, respectively.
Michelle Zamora was the last runner for the Lady Broncs as she marked a time of 27:28.09 for a 43rd place finish.
Also predicted to take the team title, Utah Valley earned top honors as they took the team title, while their very own Mary Nothum took the individual. South Dakota took the runner up spot with North Dakota and Seattle taking the third and fourth spot in the team rankings.
"I am pleased with the women considering it was a brand new team. We have a lot of freshman and JUCO transfers and they've progressed so much since the first weeks of practice," Hartman said. "I think most of our girls stepped up to the plate today."
For their last race of the season, the men's and women's team will head to Waco, Texas for the NCAA South Central Regional Championship to be held on November 14.
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