SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Highlighted by a 1-2 punch from
Dennis Kipngeno and
Tristan Stellmach to clinch the men's team title, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's cross country team turned in impressive marks on both sides in the season opener at the UIW XC Invitational Friday afternoon.
The men's side topped the leaderboard with 50 points, beating out Central Arkansas (58) and Abilene Christian (62) among the seven-team field. In the women's race, the Islanders saw two runners place in the top-10 to claim fifth behind 94 points.
Kipngeno punctuated the Islanders' season debut, finishing as the top scorer in the 5k race with a blistering 23:50.10 pace. Fellow Islander Stellmach was next to place, helping add to the team total with a runner-up spot and a 23:57.40 mark. The title marks the first regular-season team victory since the men and women swept the Lake Charles Toyota McNeese Cowboy Stampede in 2018.
"Breaking 24 minutes in a race is a great feat, both Dennis and Tristan ran an impressive race," said head coach
Brent Ericksen. "
Finishing just outside the top-10, junior Juan Salinas nabbed 11
th behind a 25:28.50 performance.
Valentina Campos led the women's squad, posting a 20:51.80 time to take second while
Quin Johnson clocked a sixth-place run with a 21:47.60 time. Rounding out the Islanders top three,
Alana Blankenship turned in a 20
th-place effort with a 22:51.10 run.
Both squads notched an Islander victory in the South Texas Southdown against UTRGV, as the men cruised past with 50 total compared to UTRGV's 67 for fourth place overall. The women collected 94 points to run away with another showdown win as UTRGV finished with sixth with 145.
The Islanders turn their sights to Southland championship meet action in Hammond, La. on Feb. 15.
Notes
- The men claimed the team title behind a clutch 1-2 finish from Kipngeno and Stellmach at the UIW XC Invitational.
- Valentina Campos led the women's squad, posting a 20:51.80 time to take second while Quin Johnson clocked a sixth-place run with a 21:47.60 time.
- The title marks the first regular-season team victory since the men and women swept the Lake Charles Toyota McNeese Cowboy Stampede in 2018.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Men's Individual Finishers
1.
Dennis Kipngeno (23:50.1)
2.
Tristan Stellmach (23:57.4)
11.
Juan Salinas III (25:28.5)
21.
Andrew Gandy (26:12.3)
22.
Hunter Haas (26:14.6)
30.
Gabe Hernandez (26:30.8)
31.
Matthew Lara (26:34.0)
Men's Team Scores
1. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (50)
2. Central Arkansas (58)
3. Abilene Christian (62)
4. UTRGV (67)
5. Tarleton State (140)
6. Trinity (157)
7. Our Lady of the Lake (170)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Women's Individual Finishers
2.
Valentina Campos (20:51.8)
6.
Quin Johnson (21:47.6)
20.
Alana Blankenship (22:51.1)
38.
Marissa Martinez (24:03.1)
39.
Cambria Clark (24.10.2)
41.
Jasmine Perez (24:31.5)
48.
Tristan Nemec (25:18.6)
Women's Team Scores
1. Abilene Christian (53)
2. Central Arkansas (63)
3. Incarnate Word (64)
4. Trinity (92)
5. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (94)
6. UTRGV (145)
7. Tarleton State (169)
Stay Social
For more information on Islanders Track & Field, follow the team on Twitter (
@IslandersTFXC), Instagram (
@IslandersTFXC) and like their Facebook page (
Islanders Track & Field/Cross Country).
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