AUSTIN, Texas – With a young roster, an influx of new talent and a returning group ready to take on larger leadership roles, the Concordia University Texas men's and women's cross country teams enter the 2026 season looking to take another step forward under second-year head coach Dave Sherrill.

The Tornados return four runners from last year's cross country teams, led by Isaias Mendoza and women's team captain Ashley Ramirez, who each recorded personal-best performances at the 2025 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships.

After placing eighth on the men's side and ninth on the women's side at last year's SCAC Championships, Concordia will look to improve its position this fall behind a significantly larger group of athletes. CTX later closed the 2025 season at the NCAA West Regional in Claremont, California, where the men finished 22nd and the women placed 21st.

MEN'S RETURNING CORE

The men's team brings back Mendoza, Gerardo Leal and Damon Vasquez, giving a young Tornados roster three runners with collegiate cross country experience.

Mendoza enters his second season at Concordia after putting together a strong freshman campaign across cross country and track. After posting a personal best at the SCAC Cross Country Championships, Mendoza carried that momentum into the spring and emerged as one of CTX's top middle-distance runners.

He closed the 2026 track season with a personal-best time of 1:55.43 in the 800 meters, the second-fastest mark in program history. Leal also finished the spring on a high note with a personal-best 4:40.20 in the 1,500 meters, while Vasquez gained additional experience in both the 800 and 1500m.

Mendoza believes having a full year of collegiate training behind him will allow him to focus more closely on the details entering his sophomore campaign.

"Knowing what is to be expected in my training, I could just look at more of the minor details and we can better improve on those and hopefully make a big difference," Mendoza said.

His experience will also be important away from competition. Sherrill noted that the team's newcomers have already gravitated toward Mendoza during preseason training, with younger runners looking to train alongside him and use him as a resource as they adjust to college.

Leal returns after gaining valuable experience during his first collegiate cross country season before continuing to develop during track season. Vasquez rounds out the returning men's group and provides another experienced runner for a roster that will feature several new faces.

WOMEN'S RETURNING CORE

On the women's side, Ramirez will serve as the foundation of a largely new group. The Lockhart, Texas native enters the season following a personal-best performance at the 2025 SCAC Championships and continued her development during the spring track season.

Ramirez lowered her 800-meter personal best multiple times during the spring, including a 3:10.07 performance at the J.G. Gonzales Memorial Invitational. More importantly, Ramirez will take on an increased leadership role as one of the most experienced members of the women's program.

"I've also learned to be more consistent and put in the work, meaning showing up at every practice and just keep going whether it's difficult or not," Ramirez said.

That mentality will be especially important for a women's team welcoming a large number of newcomers. Ramirez said one of her goals is to lead by example while helping create a close-knit environment where teammates hold one another accountable and feel comfortable turning to her for support.

NEW FACES

Youth will be one of the defining characteristics of Concordia's 2026 teams.

Sherrill and his staff brought in a sizable recruiting class as part of a program that has grown to 29 total athletes. The group features primarily incoming freshmen along with multiple transfers, providing CTX with an opportunity to build greater depth than it had during Sherrill's first season.

With so many new runners joining the program, Sherrill has emphasized relationship building throughout the offseason and preseason. The coaching staff has incorporated individual meetings to better understand each athlete's goals both in competition and away from the course, while returning leaders such as Mendoza and Ramirez have helped newcomers adjust to college life.

The larger roster gives the Tornados an opportunity to develop greater competition and depth throughout the season while building a foundation for the future of both programs.

BUILDING TOWARD THE SCAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

The regular season will ultimately serve as preparation for one of the biggest challenges of the year when Concordia travels to Colorado for the 2026 SCAC Cross Country Championships.

The trip will present a different environment for the Tornados, particularly with the change in altitude. Sherrill said the team is approaching the challenge with a growth mindset rather than allowing the unfamiliar conditions to become a distraction.

"They're accepting that as a challenge and an opportunity for them to embrace the challenge and tackle it and do their very best they can and grow from it in some way forward," Sherrill said.

After both teams advanced to the NCAA West Regional last season, CTX will look to use its regular-season meets to develop a young roster and position itself for another strong finish when championship season arrives.

A GROWING PROGRAM

For Sherrill, the second year of his tenure is about more than results. The Tornados have already emphasized a team culture built around consistency, accountability, service and putting others first.

Sherrill said the early response from the group has been encouraging, with the team's medically cleared athletes consistently participating in practices and strength sessions while also taking part in community service during preseason.

The competitive goal remains clear as well: improve upon last season's conference finishes.

With Mendoza, Leal and Vasquez providing experience for the men, Ramirez leading a new-look women's group and a much larger collection of newcomers entering the program, the 2026 season represents another opportunity for Concordia to continue building its cross country program.

For a team still establishing its identity under Sherrill, the formula entering year two is centered around development, fellowship and competing for one another.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX cross country programs, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit the Concordia Texas Athletics website.