Racing their first 8k of the season, the Patriots secured a sixth-place finish at the Texas A&M Invitational, tallying 160 points. DBU topped every Division II competitor in the field, including Lone Star Conference rivals UT-Tyler and St. Edward's. Host Texas A&M dominated on its home course, winning decisively with just 25 points.
Leading the charge for DBU was Noah Joy, who set a new personal best in the 8k with a time of 24:36.7 to place 22nd overall. Close behind, Jeb Williamson also clocked a lifetime best, finishing 27th in 24:47.1. The string of personal records continued as Zach Martin crossed in 25:05.6 for 40th, followed by Isaac Pendley in 42nd at 25:08.7. Freshman
Hudson Joseph capped the scoring five with an impressive debut, running 25:23.3 for 50th. Averaging an even 25:00 across the top five, the Patriots delivered one of the strongest collective 8k performances in program history.
DBU's depth was equally impressive, with CJ Hobbs (25:30.8), Graham Scott (25:33.4), and Chase Hope (25:35.2) finishing within five seconds of one another as the team's sixth through eighth runners. Ryan Garcia (25:43.5) showcased massive improvement from his freshman campaign, cutting more than two minutes off his previous best. Rounding out the top ten, freshman
David Salas clocked 25:45.1, becoming the fourth rookie among DBU's top finishers.
From the 2k split to the finish, the Patriots executed their race plan to perfection, dropping 82 points over the final 6k to climb from eighth to sixth place. Blending veteran leadership with newcomer firepower, DBU proved not only their current fitness but also their potential for even greater performances as the season progresses.
UP NEXT
DBU will return to training before heading north for the Oklahoma State Jamboree on Friday, September 26, where the Patriots will once again test themselves against elite competition.
