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Sept. 19, 2008

Results

Lubbock, Texas - The West Texas A&M men's cross country team finished ninth out of 12 teams at the Red Raider Invitational, held Friday afternoon over the eight kilometer course at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Lubbock, Texas.

Thomas Harris (soph., Amarillo, Texas) led the Buff contingent, finished 35th with a time of 28:14.31.  Andrew Striley (freshman, Amarillo, Texas) was 42nd with a time of 28:38.90, while Isai Saucedo (soph., Bovina, Texas) placed 49th with a 29:13.82. Other WT runners scoring were Matt Kopansky (freshman, Toronto, Ontario) who placed 52nd with a time of 29:19.13 and Jarret Kachel (junior, Hooker, Okla.), 52nd with a clocking of 29:38.50.  Running unattached was Aaron Hibbitts (soph., Amarillo, Texas) with a time of 29:47.26.

Haron Lagat, running unattached, took individual honors with a time of 24:27.57.

The Buffs were competing without several team members, who were suspended for missing a workout earlier in the week.

"Overall, I was pleased with the way we ran," said WT head coach Paul Sweetgall.  "This was our first experience at eight kilometers and we finished relatively strong. I was also impressed with the fact that our pack of runners stayed together throughout the event, which shows what kind of depth we have."

South Plains College took top team honors with 33 points, with Texas Tech second with 54 and Fort Hays State third with 86 points.  Other Lone Star Conference members competing were Abilene Christian (fourth, 122 points) and Eastern New Mexico (seventh, 208 points). WT totalled 229 points in finishing ninth.

The Buffs' next competition will be Oct. 4, when they compete in the Cowboy Jamboree, in Stillwater, Okla.