Men’s Results | Women’s Results | PICTURES
The ACU women’s cross country team showed why they’re ranked at the top of the Southland Conference when they won the ACU Wildcat Cross Country Invitational on Friday, Sept. 18.
Running at Sherrod Park, ACU was up against stiff competition with the Texas Tech Red Raiders competing against them. Despite their top runner, junior Diana Garcia-Munoz being disqualified for running off the course, the Wildcats still scored an impressive 24 points with their first three runners scoring in the top five.
Junior Alexandria Hackett claimed the first place spot with a winning time of 17:27, nearly a minute ahead of Texas Tech’s first runner.
“The heat took a toll, but it proves that if I can do it in this weather I can do it in any,” Hackett said.
The women’s race kicked off at 6 p.m. with temperatures in the high 90’s before the starting gun went off. Despite the hot conditions, the women’s team claimed their second win of the season.
With Garcia being disqualified, the next runner up was freshman Aubrey Till. The Wildcats have improved drastically from last year in regards to their pack time. Both freshman and returners have stepped up this season.
“The team attitude is so much more positive and driven,” Hackett said, “A close pack time makes it easier to enjoy the race and takes off a lot of pressure which allows us to enjoy it. It’s not as nerve wracking.”
The men’s team was also up against tough competition with the no.14 ranked Texas Tech.
Temperatures remained the same for the start of the men’s race, though the sun started to set towards the end of the race. Almost immediately runners from Texas Tech and South Plains College took the lead.
Senior Daniel Block was up with the lead pack for a majority of the race. He would finish as the lead runner for the Wildcats and third overall with a finishing time of 19:22 for the six kilometer course.
Sophomore Ryan Cleary would finish seventh for the Wildcats with teammate, junior Sterlen Paul coming in at the eleventh spot.
The men’s team finished with a total score of 41. Texas tech would claim the team championship with a total of 19 points.
The Wildcats will be back in action next weekend when they travel to College Station to compete in the Texas A&M Invitational.
