KINGSVILLE, Texas — The Texas A&M-Kingsville cross country program is making its way to Wichita Falls, Texas, on Friday to compete in the Mustang Derby, hosted by Lone Star Conference foe Midwestern State at the River Creek Golf Course. The meet begins at 8 a.m., with the women taking on the 5k and the men 10k following shortly after.
The Javelinas will join a crowded 18-team field comprised of in-region competitors and Dallas Baptist, Eastern New Mexico, Angelo State, UT Permian Basin, UT Tyler, Western New Mexico, and hosts MSU-Texas representing the LSC.
TAMUK was idle for the past three weeks, with their last competition occurring on Saturday, Sep. 17, at the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack Invitational. Sophomore Odette Fernandez was a standout performer at the invite, posting the sixth-fastest time in school history, clocking in at 18:39.4, and placing 22nd amongst a slew of NCAA Division I programs.
Fernandez wasn't the only member of the women's team to find success as junior Fae Gonzalez broke the 20-minute barrier for the first time in her collegiate career and collected a 34th-place finish. Additionally, everybody finished in the top 50 as classmate Alexa Reyes took 41st, while junior Kristen Alemana and sophomore Destinee Longoria finished back-to-back in 46th and 47th.
For the men, sophomore Cody Fountain led the team for the third consecutive meet, with the Portland, Texas native placing 34th while completing the 8k in 26:31.2. Four freshmen followed Fountain, with Nicolas Torres placing 52nd and Daniel Salinas in 55th, while Austin Venable and Daniel Perez finished in order taking 59th and 60th, respectively. Senior Elan Guerra wrapped things up in Nacogdoches, Texas, placing 62nd in 31:02.4.
Following this week's competition, the Javelinas will make the trek to San Angelo on Wednesday, Oct. 26, for ASU Blue and Gold Classic, a meet that represents the final tune-up before the Lone Star Conference Championships, which takes place on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the River Creek Golf Course.
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