HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word cross country teams performed well on Friday at the Southland Conference Cross Country Championships at Country Campus Golf Course. (Women's Results, Men's Results)

The UIW women's team finished in fourth place with 114 points.  It was the program's best finish at the conference meet since joining the Southland.  Senior Rainy Castaneda (Laredo/United South HS) led the way once again.  She finished in ninth place overall, earning her second team all-conference honors.  She covered the 6,000-meter race in 21:37.6.

The Cardinals had five runners finish in the top 40.  Freshman Danielle Martinez (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) came in 17th place in a time of 22:22.4 and was the second freshman, overall.  Sophomore Kathleen Hoffman (San Antonio/San Antonio Christian) ran well and finished 20th in a time of 22:35.2.  Freshman Emily Wilson (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) and senior Lindsey Frost (Rockport/Gregory-Portland HS) were the final scoring runners for the team.

"I'm very proud of how the women competed today," said UIW head coach Derek Riedel.  "We knew coming in that we had a chance to be in the top four and the women executed their plan by finishing fourth in a tough conference.  It was a fast and fierce race and the women moved up throughout."

"Rainy did a fabulous job leading the group," added Riedel.  "I'm also proud of how tough Danielle ran to finish 17th as the second overall freshman.  She has been a rock all season long.  Kathleen was 51st last year and 20th this year.  She is our MVP. Its moves like that that makes it possible for the women to move up to fourth place."

Abilene Christian won the women's team title behind the Alexandria Hackett who won the individual title by 38 seconds over Jannika John of Lamar.  ACU finished with 43 points while Stephen F. Austin was second with 52 points.  They were followed by Lamar (84), UIW (114), McNeese State (130), Central Arkansas (150), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (181), Sam Houston State (194), Houston Baptist (202), Southeastern Louisiana (304), Nicholls (355) and New Orleans (355).

In the men's 8,000-meter race, the Cardinals finished in eighth place with 223 points.  Freshman Garett Cortez (Schertz/Steele HS) led the team with a 15th place finish when he crossed the line in 25:36.9.  He was the third freshman to finish the race.  He earned honorable mention all-conference honors.

The Cardinals next four runners all came in rapid succession.  Mario Mora (Converse/Wagner HS) finished 51st followed by Deion Hardy (Temple/Temple HS), Sam Farrell (Lufkin/Hudson HS) and Adam Herrera (Edinburg/Vela HS) who finished 54th through 56th.

"Garett Cortez ran like a seasoned veteran today," said Riedel.  "With some more experience and strength he is going to be a force in the Southland.  Once the rest of our talented freshmen and sophomores improve and move up we will be ready to rise out of eighth place.  It's close and it's coming soon.  We just need more mileage and experience."

Lamar won the men's team's title by a scant two points over Stephen F. Austin, 27-29.  Lamar's freshman Iliass Aouani won the individual title in a time of 24:24.6, 11 seconds ahead of Charles Mathenge of SFA.

McNeese State finished in third place with 79 points and they were followed by Central Arkansas (129), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (147), Houston Baptist (177), Sam Houston State (198), UIW (223), Abilene Christian (250), Southeastern Louisiana (289), Northwestern State (291) and New Orleans (318).
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