EDINBURG – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi men's and women's cross country teams swept the top spots for the second straight year Friday at the Rio Grande Valley Classic. The Islanders men's team sealed the top four spots while the women's team took the top three against Texas - Pan American in their first race of the season at the Monte Cristo Golf Course.
On the men's side, Patrick Kimeli teamed up with Paul Hansel to place first with a time of 37:05. It marks the third consecutive year Kimeli has won the Rio Grande Valley Classic with three different partners. Finishing in second for the Islanders was the sophomore-senior pair of Valentinas Rudys and Daniel Barlow. The two clocked an eight-mile time of 37:08. The sophomore duo of Philipp Baar and Abel Koskey followed in third with a time of 37:16 and seniors Jacob Abrego and Adrian Marquez placed fourth with a time of 37:20. Sophomore Christoph Hintz ran solo and finished with a time of 28:23 to finish in fifth.
The women's squad also had a strong outing in their first meet of the season. The duo of BreAnna Briggs and Jasmine Boutte placed first with an eight-mile time of 44:30. The sophomore-junior pair of Vanessa Galindo and Cecilia Jones finished right behind Briggs and Boutte in second with a time of 44:31. Freshman Alexandra Fernandez and sophomore Kayla Fischer followed in third with a time of 47:56. UTPA's duo of Judith Chumba and Robin Galloso placed fourth and UTPA pair Tania Fabian and Beatriz Garza finished in fifth. The sophomore pair of Maeghen Wedgeworth and Chelsey Arambula came in sixth with a time of 50:44. Ana Martinez and Rebekah Rodriguez of UTPA took seventh and Islanders sophomore Alexandria Rossi and Samantha Hardin clocked a time of 57:09 to place eighth.
The Islanders will next be in action on Fri., Sept. 14, in Houston, Texas, at the Rice Invite.
For the latest information, follow Islanders Cross Country on Twitter (@IslandersTFXC) and Facebook (Texas A&M Corpus Christi Track & Field/Cross Country).
Men's Results (8 Mile):
1. Patrick Kimeli/Paul Hansel 37:05
2. Valentinas Rudys/Daniel Barlow 37:08
3. Philipp Baar/Abel Koskey 37:16
4. Jacob Abrego/Adrian Marquez 37:20
5. Christoph Hintz 28:23
6. UTPA: Martin Casse/Sergio Mireles 37:52
7. UTPA: Raymond Flowers/Andy Lopez 39:18
Women's Results (8 Mile):
1. BreAnna Briggs/Jasmine Boutte 44:30
2. Vanessa Galindo/Cecilia Jones 44:31
3. Alexandra Fernandez/Kayla Fischer 47:56
4. UTPA: Judith Chumba/Robin Galloso 49:30
5. UTPA: Tania Fabian/Beatriz Garza 49:49
6. Maeghen Wedgeworth/Chelsey Arambula 50:44
7. UTPA: Ana Martinez/Rebekah Rodriguez 52:34
8. Samantha Hardin/Alexandria Rossi 57:09
