KERRVILLE, Texas – The Concordia University Texas cross country teams continued their progress at the Mountaineer Invitational on Saturday morning, highlighted by a career performance from Isaias Mendoza and a third-place team finish from the Tornado men.

Mendoza led the Tornados on the men's side, crossing the finish line 17th overall with a personal-record time of 28:51.6. The sophomore shattered his previous 8K best by 50 seconds.

Tanner Moser followed in 23rd at 29:17.1, while Gerardo Leal finished 25th at 29:20.8. Jeremiah Valle crossed in 26th at 29:38.3, and Jacob Del Real rounded out a group of five Tornados inside the top 30 with a 28th-place time of 29:53.8.

The strong pack performance helped Concordia secure third place in the men's team standings.

On the women's side, Joselyn Pedraza once again paced Concordia, placing 22nd overall in 27:24.4 in the 6K. Samantha Sanchez followed in 29th with a time of 27:58.2, while Elizabeth Bustillos placed 36th at 29:31.1.

Bertha Escobar-Luviano crossed 40th in 30:26.6, and Maya Beckett completed Concordia's top five in 44th with a time of 31:07.1.

The Mountaineer Invitational marked Concordia's first full-length races of the season after competing at shorter distances during its opening meets.

Concordia Texas will next return to a familiar course in Georgetown, Texas where they will compete in the Southwestern Showdown on October 3rd. The women's 6k will start at 8am with the men's 8k beginning at 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.