Saints Finish 2022 Campaign at NAIA National Cross-Country Championships

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (Nov. 18, 2022) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men's cross-country team took 27th place out of 34 teams in the 67th Annual NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship at Apalachee Regional Park on Friday. The Saints recorded the best team finish in school history.

The Saints finished with a team score of 728 points in the 8k with a total time of 2:11.22 and an average of 26:16.

Head Coach Patrick Torres said, "There's not a lot you can be upset about when you finish the best in school history. I think this squad will have a chance to be special in the years to come."

OLLU's Jose Zarate was the Saints' top finisher with a 64th place finish of 318 runners. Zarate's 25:11.6 time set the Saints highest individual finish ever at nationals. Next was Hendrick Ramirez, 200th place, with a time of 26:22.9. He was followed by Diego Moran with a time of 26:25.6, Jayden Turrubiates with a time of 26:35.5, JoseCarlos Hernandez with a time of 26:47.4, Jose Saucedo with a time of 26:48.9 and Kruz Malesich with a time of 27:18.7.

The women's cross-country meet followed, and the team finished in 35th place out of 36 teams. OLLU completed the race with a team score of 1,018 points in the 5k. They had a total time of 1:43.07 and an average of 20:37.

Deandra Ibarra crossed the finish line first for the Saints in 176th place at 19:31. Viridiana Zuniga followed in 289th place with a time of 20:47.6. She was followed by Sierra Ramirez with a time of 20:48.8, Nadia Sifuentes with a time of 20:54.3, Robbie Sue Espericueta with a time of 21:06, Mia Curiel with a time of 21:10.8 and Kennedy Villalpando with a time of 21:19.5.

Torres addressed the women's results saying, "We learned a lot about ourselves today and most of this group will be back to improve upon what we did this year."