Stunkard, Melody Espinoza led Roadrunners at Willamette InvitationalStunkard, Melody Espinoza led Roadrunners at Willamette Invitational
Track & Field/Cross Country

Stunkard, Melody Espinoza led Roadrunners at Willamette Invitational

by Alma Solis

SALEM, Ore.— The UTSA cross country teams finished the Willamette Invitational with a third-place men’s team finish and a fifth-place women’s team finish on Saturday morning at Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon.

In the opening 8000-meter men’s race, Colton Stunkard led the Roadrunners to a third-place team finish as the Texas City native finished in 10th place out of a field of 244 runners with a time of 24:39.7. In his season debut, Caden Cunningham started strong as the 20th place finisher with a time of 25:07.3. OJ Ruiz took 27th place individually as he crossed the finish line at 25:10.2. Idol Ramon followed exactly one second later to take 29th place.

Adrian Orozco was the final Roadrunner to score as he finished in 57th place with a time of 25:42.0. Landon Blankenship landed in 87th place at 26:26.3, while Gabe Hernandez rounded out UTSA’s runners in 107th place at 26:57.7.

For the second consecutive meet, Melody Espinoza was the top runner on the women’s side as she placed 12th out of 222 runners with a time of 17:48.2 in the 5000-meter run. Marissa Espinoza crossed the finish line in 18:16.6 to take 23rd place. Jadelyn Malesich logged a time of 18:33.7 to take 35th. Brooke Veltman (41st, 18:45.3) and Taylor Cochran (44th, 18:46.8) rounded out the top five scorers for UTSA.

Luzaan De Wit finished the race in 67th place with a time of 19:20.1 Itzel Rojo recorded a finish time of 19:24.4 for 71stplace, while Chante Dixon rounded out the competing Roadrunners in 75th place with a time of 19:29.1.

The Roadrunners return to the Lone Star State on Oct. 13 to compete in Texas A&M’s Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas, at Watts Cross Country Course.

 

UTSA Results

 

Men (3rd/114)

10

Colton Stunkard

24:39.7

20

Caden Cunningham

25:07.3

27

OJ Ruiz

25:10.2

29

Idol Ramon

25:11.2

57

Adrian Orozco

25:42.0

87

Landon Blankenship

26:26.3

107

Gabe Hernandez

26:57.7

 

Women (5th/131)

12

Melody Espinoza

17:48.2

23

Marissa Espinoza

18:16.6

35

Jadelyn Malesich

18:33.7

41

Brooke Veltman

18:45.3

44

Taylor Cochran

18:46.8

67

Luzaan De Wit

19:20.1

71

Itzel Rojo

19:24.4

75

Chante Dixon

19:29.1

 

-UTSA-