Schreiner men win first ASC cross country title on home course

Schreiner University’s men’s cross country team won the American Southwest Conference championship Saturday at Kerrville-Schreiner Park. The university says it’s the first conference title in program history.

The Mountaineers didn’t have the individual winner. They won on depth instead, putting five runners in the top 15 of the 8-kilometer race. Schreiner scored 51 points to hold off McMurry (59), East Texas Baptist (70), Hardin-Simmons (71) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (95).

Junior Nico Lopez led Schreiner, finishing third in 27:22.3 behind McMurry seniors Rogelio Ramirez and Isaac Gonzales. Senior Sean Dansby was eighth in 28:08.3. Freshman Gabriel Aguilar was 11th, freshman Adan Valdez 14th and junior Aidan Bedwell 15th. Freshman Christopher Bueno came in right behind them in 16th.

The title was decided further back in the field. McMurry had the race’s top two finishers, but its fourth and fifth runners placed 17th and 27th. Schreiner’s top five crossed the line within about two minutes of each other.

Rajeem Garnett was named ASC Coach of the Year. Lopez made the all-conference first team. Dansby, Aguilar and Valdez made the second team. Lopez was also named to the conference’s Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Team, which honors one athlete from each school, chosen by the league’s head coaches.

It’s a young group. Four of Schreiner’s top seven finishers were freshmen, and Dansby was the only senior.

Ramirez won the individual title in 26:57.1 and was named ASC Runner of the Year. East Texas Baptist’s Dakoda Womack finished fifth in 27:49.3 and was named Freshman of the Year.

The title caps a season that started with Schreiner winning the Stormy Seas XC Opener outright.

In the women’s 6-kilometer race, Schreiner finished third with 69 points. East Texas Baptist won easily with 18 points, putting seven runners in the top 11, and Mary Hardin-Baylor was second with 62. Junior McKenna Emerson led the Mountaineers in eighth place in 25:53.5. Sophomore Amaya Diaz-Gonzales was 10th in 26:15.3. Schreiner finished ahead of Hardin-Simmons (99) and McMurry (115). East Texas Baptist’s Danna Requena won the race in 24:13.3.

Both Schreiner teams run next at the NCAA Division III West Region championships Nov. 14 at The Course Spokane Valley in Spokane Valley, Washington.

Men’s team scores

• Schreiner, 51
• McMurry, 59
• East Texas Baptist, 70
• Hardin-Simmons, 71
• Mary Hardin-Baylor, 95

Schreiner’s top seven

• 3. Nico Lopez, Jr., 27:22.3
  8. Sean Dansby, Sr., 28:08.3
  11. Gabriel Aguilar, Fr., 29:06.9
  14. Adan Valdez, Fr., 29:19.8
  15. Aidan Bedwell, Jr., 29:23.2
  16. Christopher Bueno, Fr., 29:26.5
  25. Zane Hosey, Fr., 29:58.7