By: Joe Fisher, Sports Information Director
CLARKSVILLE, Ark. –
Rick Platas and
Bianca Bagwell each finished inside the top-14 of their respective races to garner all-conference honors as the Concordia Texas Cross Country team ran in the American Southwest Conference Championships on Saturday at Clarksville High School.
Platas, who is having a historic junior season, continued his success at the conference meet, finishing ninth overall in the men's 8K race with a time of 26:45.1.
The mark smashes the program's best time by a Tornado at the ASC meet, which was set by Platas last season. By finishing in the top-14 runners, Platas also collected All-ASC honors, being named to the ASC Second Team for his performance.
It is the second straight season Platas has received All-ASC honors, becoming only the second men's team runner to earn multiple All-ASC accolades, joining Riley Zoch, who accomplished the feat in 2013 and 2014.
Meanwhile, on the women's side, Bagwell capped off her sophomore season with a 13th place finish in the 6K race, clocking in with a time of 25:26.8.
She also received All-ASC honors, being selected to the ASC Second Team for her showing. It is the second straight season Bagwell has garnered All-ASC distinction and the first Tornado to collect multiple All-ASC honors since
Emily Villines did it from 2015-18.
The men's team's top five runners posted a score of 130 to place fifth among the nine teams at the meet.
Sam Stewart was the second Tornado to cross the finish line, recording a personal-best time of 28:13.4 and placing 23rd overall.
Jacob Ismir, who was an All-ASC selection last season, finished 35th in the race and turned in a time of 29:06.6.
Daniel Bizima and
Thomas Hughes rounded out CTX's team score, running times of 29:44.4 and 29:45.3 to place 43rd and 44th, respectively.
Kamron Loera and
Nathan Luevano stayed together throughout the race, posting times of 30:52.6 and 30:53.8, respectively.
Jeremy Longoria, competing in his first conference meet, crossed the finish line in a time of 32:00.9, while
Jonathon Espinoza, also in his first ASC Championships, recorded a time of 32:13.5.
Miguel Morales was the final Tornado runner on the day, finishing the race with a personal-best time of 32:41.3.
On the women's side, CTX totaled 149 points and placed fifth in the team standings.
Meghan Kevil followed behind Bagwell, clocking in a time of 29:27.3 to place 45th, while
Kristine Regalado took 52nd with a time of 31:36.6.
Kendall Simpson had a personal-best performance, recording a time of 32:34.5 for 54th place. Meanwhile,
Lauren Rekward closed out CTX's team score, placing 55th overall and crossing the finish line in a time of 32:55.9.
The Tornados will now look ahead to the NCAA Regional meet, which will be held on Nov. 13 in Los Angeles, Calif.