UTEP XC Returns to the Course at the Arturo Barrios Invitational Friday Morning

10/17/2024 2:34:00 PM

EL PASO – After almost a month off from competition, the UTEP cross country team will return to action when it competes at Texas A&M's Arturo Barrios Invitational at Watts Cross Country Course in College Station on Oct. 18.

The men's 8k is set for a 7:30 a.m. MDT start, while the gun goes off for the women's 6k at 8:15 a.m.

"This is our final tune-up before the conference championship meet," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Mika Laaksonen said. "This will present a great opportunity to find out where we stand as a team tomorrow when both the men and women are facing their stiffest competition yet for the season."

Competing for the men are Evan Avitia, Andrew Crosby, Sebastian Gonzalez, Julian Guerra, Christian Hurtado, Maxwell Kipkosgei, Juan Leal, Israel Quintana, Kenneth Talavera, Aron Tanui and Seth Truax.

Andrea Castillo, Briannah Garcia, Bobbi Guillen, Brenda Jerop, Ruth Jerubet, Vallary Kiplagat, Salma Licon, April Marrufo, Victoria Ovalles and Alex Rangel are taking the course for the women.

The Miners will compete against host Texas A&M, ACU, Arizona State, Arkansas State, Baylor, Boise State, Central Arkansas, Charleston Southern, Colorado (women), Delaware (women), Eastern Michigan, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Houston, Houston Christian, UIW, Lamar, Louisiana, McNeese State, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, NM State, New Orleans, Nicholls State, North Dakota, North Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Rice, Sam Houston, SMU (women), SFA, Texas A&M-Texarkana, Tarleton State, TCU, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas State, Texas Tech, UTA, UTSA and Youngstown State.

Live results available here.

ABOUT ARTURO BARRIOS
Arturo Barrios is a member of the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame class of 1998. During his time in Aggieland, Barrios set school records in the 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m, and 10,000m races and was a three-time Southwest Conference Champion. In 1985, he was a silver medalist in the NCAA Championships in the 10,000m with a record time of 28:42.77. After graduating from Texas A&M, Barrios represented Mexico in the 1988 Olympic Games setting world records at distances of 10,000m, 20,000m and one-hour run.

PREVIOUS MEET
Kenneth Talavera finished in 11^th place out of 74 competitors followed by Ruth Jerubet crossing the finish line in 10^th place out of 64 runners at Arizona's Dave Murray Invitational at Tucson Country Club Golf on Sept. 28.

Talavera finished as the top Miner in the 8k event, clocking in a personal-best 23:58.5.

Ruth Jerubet clocked in a 21:40.1 and finished the women's 6k race as the top Miner in 10^th place. It was Jerubet's 14^th career top-10 finish.

Freshman and El Paso product Seth Truax improved his 8k time, clocking in a personal-best 25:22.5 (39^thoverall). Truax's previous time was 27:00.8 at the Texas Tech Open on Sept. 13. Fellow frosh Andrew Crosby also improved on his time with a 25:48.7. Crosby clocked in a 27:26.7 at the Texas Tech Open. Freshman Sebastian Gonzalez competed in his first 8k of the season and turned in a 25:31.3.

The UTEP women's team (129 points) finished fifth out of eight. The UTEP men (177 points) placed seventh out of eight programs.

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For complete coverage of UTEP Track & Field/Cross Country, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPTrack (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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