Richardson, Texas – The 2022 American Southwest Conference cross country championships are set for Saturday (Oct. 29). The races will take place at the Course of Marshall City Arena and is being hosted by East Texas Baptist University.
The ASC women's championship 6k race is scheduled for a 9:00 a.m. start while the men's championship 8k race is slated for a 10:15 a.m. start.
Among the ASC men's runners, McMurry sophomore Gabriel Sanchez (Fort Worth, Texas) has raced the fastest 8k time this fall with a 25:22.7 at the UIW Invitational. LeTourneau freshman David Dugan (Lake Oswego, Ore.) follows with a 25:42 at the Lumberjack Invitational. Ozarks senior Nathan Rankin (Plano, Texas) rounds out the top three with a 25:52.9, which came on the same course for the ETBU Tiger Invitational.
Rankin has won two ASC individual titles in his career, which is tied for a conference record. Rankin was a four-time ASC Runner of the Week. Others earning the weekly accolade included: Sanchez, Dugan, and UT Dallas junior Graeme Maclean (Fairview, Texas).
LeTourneau, the defending ASC men's champion, has claimed two team wins this season: the season opening Nicole Leman Invitational and the final regular season race at the ETBU Tiger Invitational. UT Dallas won the University of Dallas XC Invitational. In 2021, LeTourneau captured its first conference title in program history, and senior Lorien Nightingale was the individual medalist for the second straight season from the YellowJackets
On the women's side, Hardin-Simmons junior Kylah Holland (Clyde, Texas) has been flashing quick times throughout the fall. Her lone 6k time of 23:06 at the Cowboy Jamboree on September 24 was fastest time for that distance. McMurry junior Jazmin Chacon (El Paso, Texas) posted the other sub-24:00 time with a 23:18.2 at the Lewis and Clark Invite. Her sister Janeth Chacon (El Paso, Texas) rounds the top three with a 24:04.7 at the UIW Invitational.
Holland has earned three ASC Runner of the Week citations to lead the conference this fall. UT Dallas sophomore Rebeca Betanzo (Prosper, Texas) had two early conference weekly recognitions. Other runners collecting ASC weekly honors include LeTourneau freshman Hope Greenwald (Tucson, Ariz.) and sophomore Briella Rose (Gilmer, Texas), and Chacon.
LeTourneau won its home race the Nicole Leman Invitational, while East Texas Baptist prevailed in its home event. UT Dallas rounded out team first place finishes with its result at the University of Dallas XC Invitational.
McMurry is the defending American Southwest Conference Women's Cross Country champion (2021) winning their second title in program history. Jazmin Chacone was the individual medalist.
2022 ASC Top Performance List can be found here.
ASC Cross Country Championships Central
East Texas Baptist Championship Host Site
