Ready set run... SPC cross country teams begin season

by Caroline Basile, staff writer

 

The 2006 cross country season is underway at SPC.

Runners for the men’s and women’s teams recently competed in their first meet of the year at Portales, New Mexico.

Happy Mary Bacia placed first overall for the women’s team. Bacia, a

sophomore who finished third at the 2005 NJCAA Cross Country Championship, is a native of Arua, Uganda.

Mary Patuel, a native of Corpus Christi, finished first among freshmen and 35th overall. The men’s team did not score at the meet, due to an error. The Texans were told to complete a 5K race, when it was supposed to be an 8K race. 

"Overall, it was a good race,” said assistant coach Blaine Wiley. “It was too bad they messed up from the beginning of the race [men's], but the kids used it as a work out, and that was kind of what we went over there for.”

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete on Sept. 30 at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree, in Stillwater, Okla.,  as well as on Oct. 14 at the SPC Cross Country Invitational in Levelland, at the NJCAA Regional Championships on Oct. 21 in Snyder, and at the NJCAA National Championships on Nov. 4 in El Paso.

Both the mens and women’s cross country teams have some experience that should prove to be a strength. Joining Bacia, who was named All-American at the 2005 NJCAA Cross Country Championships, on the women’s team is Krystal Charles, a sophomore from Harker Heights. She finished 61st at the 2005 NJCAA Cross Country Championships. 

Returning to the men’s team is Reuben Twijkye, of Kampala, Uganda, who finished 59th at the 2005 championships and was named NJCAA All-American in the 4x800 meter relay and the 800-meter run. 

John Kosgei, a native of Kenya, was also named All-American in the 4x800 meter relay, 1,500-meter run, 5,000-meter run, and 10,000 -meter run at the 2006 NJCAA Track and Field Championships. Josphat Melly, also from Kenya, finished fourth in the 5,000-meter run and fifth in the 10,000-meter run at the 2006 NJCAA Track and Field Championships. Chase Wade, from Arlington, finished 137th at the 2005 NJCAA Cross Country Championships.

New members on the women’s team include Fernanda Esquivel, a 2006 graduate of Del Rio School, Gus Newmeyer, a native of Clay Center, Kansas, Lillian Badaru of Arua, Uganda, and Mary Patuel, a 2006 graduate of W.B. Ray High school im Corpus Christi.

New members on the men’s team include: Michael Hernandez, a 2006 graduate of Balmorhea High School; Jay Wilson, a 2006 graduate of Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio; and Denzel Ramirez, from Trinidad and Tobago.

Other newcomers include Lance Medina, a 2006 graduate of Aransas Pass High School,  Chris Jones, who graduated from Alief Taylor High School in Houston in 2006, and T.K. Revis, a 2006 graduate of King High School in Corpus Christi.