GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Concordia University Texas cross country program co-hosted the Stormy Seas Opener, a competitive meet featuring powerhouse programs such as the University of Texas, Prairie View A&M, and several professional training teams.

The highlight of the day came from the women's team, who showed tremendous growth compared to just a season ago. Concordia's women improved their average team time from 29:03 last year to an impressive 25:11 in this year's opener. The strong performance was fueled by returning runners building on last year's progress and newcomers stepping up in their first-ever collegiate meet.

Freshman Liliana Lutz led the way with a time of 21:53.46. Ashley Rivera was the second Tornado to cross for the women as she also posted a sub 25-minute time at 22:25.33. Kaydence Williamson (26:50.46), Camille McWhorter (27:15.46) and Skye Wardlay (27:32.70) all almost finished consecutively.

On the men's side, Eddie Wells Wensley (18:43.29) set a new personal record, while Samuel Valdez (17:28.05) embraced his senior leadership role, guiding a young squad. A key takeaway was the tight pack running, with Concordia's top three finishers separated by just 15 seconds (Matthew Kangas, 17:28.28 & Isaias Mendoza, 17:43.62), showcasing the team's depth and competitive spirit.

In their debuts, fellow freshmen Hector Guitterez (18:32.35) & Gerardo Leal (18:48.13) posted strong times. 

Click here to view the full results from the meet.

The Tornados leave the opener with confidence and momentum heading into the rest of the season. Their next meet will be on September 12th in Houston where they will compete in the 49th Rice Invitational.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX cross country program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu.