The University of Texas at Dallas men’s cross country team celebrates its second consecutive American Southwest Conference championship on Saturday in Abilene, Texas. Members of the team include (front row, from left) John Gabriel, Christian Kondor, Griffin Davis, Sharan Venkateshwar and Chris Reyna; and (back row) Blake Stroud, Trent Sakakini, Nathan Musial, Lucas Klenovich, Joel Guzman, Joseph Kirby, Jack Newton and Andres Uriegas.
The University of Texas at Dallas men’s cross country team placed five runners among the top 12 finishers as the Comets captured their second straight American Southwest Conference (ASC) championship Saturday in Abilene, Texas.
UT Dallas recorded a program-best 43 points to claim the title, while a school-record five runners collected All-ASC honors after their performances.
Andres Uriegas paced the Comets with a fifth-place finish, completing the 8-kilometer course in a time of 26:41. Uriegas and teammate Trent Sakakini, who placed seventh with a time of 26:49, both were honored as first-team All-ASC.
Griffin Davis, Chris Reyna and John Gabriel each earned second-team All-ASC honors. Davis placed ninth at 26:55, Reyna 10th at 26:59, and Gabriel 12th at 27:15. Comets head coach Danielle Kcholi was named the ASC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Other members of the team are Christian Kondor, Sharan Venkateshwar, Blake Stroud, Nathan Musial, Lucas Klenovich, Joel Guzman, Joseph Kirby, Jack Newton, Leon Valdman, Payton Ash, Adrel Aparicio and Ryan Al-Tayar.
Additionally, the women’s cross country team placed second at the ASC Championships with Elizabeth Chimitt earning ASC Freshman of the Year honors after placing third in the 6-kilometer race. Chimitt and senior Brittany Parga each earned first-team All-ASC accolades for their performances.
The men’s team will return to action Saturday, Nov. 16, when it competes in the NCAA Division III Regional Championships in Memphis, Tennessee.
Soccer, Volleyball Teams Start Postseason Play
The UT Dallas men’s soccer team, which is hosting its ASC championship tournament this week, will play in the semifinals against the University of the Ozarks at 11 a.m. Friday.
The Comets (15-3-2) beat LeTourneau University, 2-0, on Tuesday to advance. The title game will be at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The women’s soccer team (16-2-3) advanced to the semifinals of its ASC tournament on Tuesday with a penalty-kick shootout victory over Belhaven University. The Comets will face the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at 4 p.m. Friday in Abilene.
The volleyball team (22-4) will host its conference championship tournament at the Activity Center, starting Thursday. The Comets will face either Concordia University Texas or McMurry University in semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday. The title match will be at 1 p.m. Saturday. Pairings and ticket information can be found on the Comets website.