Huntsville - Texas A&M-Kingsville men's and women's cross country teams began their fall campaigns with a rare evening race as they both took third out of the four teams competing at the Bearkat Twilight Opener. 

Both teams finished behind only the meet's hosts, Sam Houston State, and Our Lady of the Lake, finishing ahead of North American University. The Javelinas on both the men's and the women's sides each ran 5 kilometer races, and sat out their top runner.

"I like where we are at, both teams moved up throughout the race," Assistant Coach Zachary Hall said. "For the men you add three more kilometers onto that race and the results are very different."

Kayla Trevino was the first to finish for TAMUK on the women's side, running 20:17.6 in her first collegiate race. Just behind her was sophomore Yaritzy Acosta, who ran a 20:19.4 - the pair took fourth and fifth place respectively. Junior Ella Hester's 21:39.2 took third for the team, finishing in 11th overall. Beyonce Hernandez and Zailey Zimmerman rounded out the top five for the Javelinas, running 22:11.3 and 22:30.9 respectively. 

"Despite the hot conditions, these teams ran well," Hall said. "The women were led by Kayla and Yari, both finished top five. For the men, Alan led the way, followed closely by Roberto A and Josh."

It was young racers leading the pack for Kingsville on the men's side as well, with sophomore Alan Baez's 16:09.0 finished him in fourth place, the first Javelina finisher. Just behind him, another sophomore, Roberto Alejandro ran a 16:18.2 to take sixth place while freshman Josh Perez, TAMUK's third finisher, took 12th with a 16:42.4. Sophomore Robert Trevino and freshman Joey Barrera made up the rest of the Javelinas' top five, finishing with a 16:49.1 and a 16:57.3 respectively.

"Great results for the partial squads," Hall said. "Excited to watch the full women's team compete at UIW next week."

The team will race again in just a week in San Antonio at the University of the Incarnate Word Invitational.