Bulldogs compete in Concordia Cross Country Classic

PFLUGERVILLE, TX -- Texas Lutheran Men's and Women's Cross Country took on the Concordia Cross Country Classic at Northeast Metropark Soccer Friday night in a field that spanned from Division-I University of Texas and NAIA schools to other Division-III institutions.

Kristin Lucero (San Antonio/Brennan) paced the Bulldogs finishing the 6K in 24:47.8 to finish 17th - fourth amongst Division-III runners in a field flooded by University of Texas runners. Following close behind Lucero were Caeli Taylor (Tilden/McMullen County) and Mackenzie Payne (Celina/ Frisco Heritage) who posted times of 25:02.4 and 25:18.6 respectively to finish 21st and 25th in the 100+ runner field. Alissa Kennedy (El Paso/El Paso) and Julia Maciel (San Antonio/Highlands) rounded out the Top 5 for Texas Lutheran. Per Coach Holland, almost every single runner on the women's team ran a personal best. Lucero moved onto TLU's all-time 6K record board and the freshman one as well.

The Bulldogs finished 4th in the 6K race as a team - a few seconds behind fellow Division-III team Mary Hardin-Baylor.

In the men's 8K, it was Johari Dramiga (San Antonio/East Central) who led the Bulldogs finishing the race in 28:54.5 to finish 40th. Next to cross the finish line for the Bulldogs was Matthew Hoffmann (San Antonio/Clark) who posted a time of 29:28.3 to finish 47th. Koby Green (San Antonio/Clark), Austin Szewczyk (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge), and Ryan Hernandez (Dallas/Uplift Peak Preparatory) round out the top 5 for the Bulldogs. Per Coach Holland, Hoffmann, Green, Szewczyk, and Hernandez all bested times on the all-time 8K record board. Szewczyk & Hernandez also made marks on the freshman record board.

The Bulldogs finished 8th in the 8K race.

Coach Holland was happy about where the team is right now stating, "I'm definitely excited to see how we can continue to improve as the season progresses. Next week we look forward to the Hoka meet in Florida as we get into some competition that we've never seen before.'

Next, Texas Lutheran Cross Country travels to Lakeland, Florida for the HOKA Invitational 22 at Holloway Park next Friday, Oct. 1st.