GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Concordia University Texas cross country teams delivered a collection of personal-best performances at the Southwestern Showdown, as the men placed fourth overall and first among NCAA Division III competition, while the women finished 12th overall.
The Tornados combined for 16 personal records and three season-best performances across the men's 8K and women's 6K.
On the men's side, sophomore Isaias Mendoza led the way with a ninth-place finish, clocking a personal-record time of 27:30.22. Junior Tanner Moser followed in 24th at 28:19.79, shaving 19 seconds off his season-best time.
Freshman Nathan Perez produced one of the biggest improvements of the meet, cutting four minutes off his previous PR with a time of 28:33.78 to place 30th. Liam Snow followed with a two-minute PR, crossing the line in 29:19.90.
The personal records continued throughout the CTX lineup. Jeremiah Valle improved his PR by three seconds with a 29:35.89, while Jesus Higas dropped 40 seconds with a 29:41.61. Jacob Del Real lowered his best by 11 seconds at 29:42.44, and Kalub Flores recorded a one-minute PR with a 29:56.61.
Junior Damon Vasquez registered a four-minute season best with a time of 30:42.02. Danny Perez took 53 seconds off his PR with a 31:24.33, while Julius Seiple improved by 16 seconds at 33:12.72 and Dennis Goard lowered his PR by 18 seconds with a 34:54.41.
The collective effort propelled Concordia to fourth place overall, with the Tornados finishing ahead of every other NCAA Division III program in the field.
On the women's side, freshman Joselyn Pedraza continued to pace CTX, placing 57th with a 25-second PR of 26:59.20.
Elizabeth Bustillos shaved 11 seconds off her personal best with a 29:20.84, while Bertha Escobar-Luviano made a significant jump with a one-minute PR of 29:50.47. Nevaeh Irvin added a 15-second PR, finishing in 31:26.35.
Junior Ashley Ramirez posted a season-best 32:18.21, improving by 14 seconds. Summer Trejo lowered her PR by 36 seconds with a 32:59.29, while Gabi Aceves capped the string of improvements with a one-minute PR of 36:04.32.
The women finished 12th overall behind six personal records and one season-best, completing a day in which both CTX squads saw substantial improvements throughout their lineups.
Click here to view the full results of the meet.
Concordia Texas has capped the regular season and will now prepare for the SCAC Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 31st. The women's 6K will begin at 8am with the men's 8K slated for 8:50am.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX cross country program, follow us on social media @ctxathletics and visit athletics.concordia.edu.
