THE RUNDOWN
The DBU Women's Cross Country Team claimed the team title at the Gerald Richey Invitational on Friday morning. Host UT Arlington finished second with 37 points, while East Texas A&M placed third with 83 points.
Senior Lesli Salas led the Red and Blue across the finish line, maintaining her third-place position throughout the race and finishing in 17:30.3.
Kylie Himes,
Courtney Hobbs, and
Makayla Stephens followed in succession, securing fifth, sixth, and seventh place with times of 17:55.3, 18:00.8, and 18:01.3, respectively. Freshman
Montse Guerra rounded out the Patriots' scoring five, placing 11th in 18:11.8.
While only five runners counted toward the team score, DBU's depth proved to be the difference. UTA placed the top two individual runners, but the Patriots countered with four runners in the top seven. Freshman
Emma Bielkiewicz added a 13th-place finish in 18:23.2, followed by
Kirra Phillips in 15th at 18:26.9. Both finished ahead of UTA's fifth scorer, allowing DBU to overcome the Mavericks' one-two punch and claim the team title.
Temperatures remained manageable despite the humid conditions, with morning clouds keeping the sun at bay. Racing against Division I competition, the Patriots maintained tight packs throughout the race and showed strong depth across the field. The season opener provided a valuable opportunity to shake off the rust while setting the tone for the races ahead.
UP NEXT
DBU will return to action next week at the Mustang Derby, hosted by Midwestern State. The Patriots will compete in the 4K race on Thursday, September 17, in Wichita Falls, Texas.
