Kingsville, TX Oct. 25th 2008
The trip was long to say the least for the men who drove down to San Antonio on thursday and headed into kingsville on friday. The women flew out early friday morning and arrived about the same time as the men. We ate many different places (chili's, china bear, golden corral, kingsville caf, t-bell on the way back).
Saturday morning was pretty warm and the course was flat, but the footing wasn't the best I've seen. Either way both teams raced well. The women came away with a 2nd place team finish and finished three in the top 20.
8 of the 10 runners on the men's team set personal best's in the race, but finished 8th overall as a team. The Lone Star Conference is loaded with talented teams. Four of the top men's teams averaged under 5:12 per mile throughout the race. This race was a great measuring stick to see where we need to be in order to be successful in the future.
Jeniffer Cherono (junior, Iten, Kenya), was the top Lady Buff finisher, placing third over the 6k course with a time of 22:21. Following Cherono for the Lady Buffs were Kristie Hartsfield (junior, Perryton, Texas), 11th with a time of 23:50, followed by Belinda Castanon (senior, El Paso, Texas), 18th, 24:16, Allie Reyna (freshman, Ralls, Texas), 24th with a time of 24:47, and Becca Rapstine (sophomore, White Deer, Texas), 28th with a 25:13. Also running but not scoring was Tara Shields (freshman, Spearman, Texas), who placed 51st with a time of 27:06.
Leading the Buffs' efforts on the 7,700 meter course was Jose Velazquez (senior, Hereford, Texas), who finished 28th with a time of 25:55. He was followed by Thomas Harris (sophomore, Amarillo, Texas), 36th with a time of 26:32, Andrew Striley (freshman, Amarillo, Texas), 41st with a 26:45, Jarret Kachel (junior, Hooker, Okla.), 50th with a 27:36 and Isai Saucedo (soph., Bovina, Texas), 51st with a time of 27:39. Also competing but not scoring were Erik Huerta (soph., Hereford, Texas), 56th, 28:15, Matt Kopansky (freshman, Toronto, Ontario), 62nd, 28:43, Jesse Maldonado (fresh., Hereford, Texas), 65th, 29:07, Jarred Murray (freshman, Odessa, Texas), 66th, 29:07 and Luis Flores (soph., Booker, Texas), 67th with a time of 29:48.
