Saints Will Continue To Prove their Excellence As They Open Their 16th Season
SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 28, 2024) – The reigning Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Champions Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men's and women's cross-country teams, with their impressive nine conference titles each, are set to open their 15th season on Aug. 30 at the University of the Incarnate Word UIW Twilight. The Saints, a team of proven excellence, will also host three tournaments this year, a testament to their continued dominance in the sport.
Conference rankings
The men's team has won nine conference championships in a row and has been selected to finish first in the preseason poll, followed by Texas A&M University—Texarkana, Xavier University of Louisiana, Huston-Tillotson University and Jarvis Christian University.
The women's team, which has also won nine conference titles, was picked first in the poll, followed by Texas A&M University—Texarkana, Xavier University of Louisiana, the University of the Southwest, Huston-Tillotson University and Jarvis Christian University.
Making its debut this season in the conference is North American University.
Charlton indicated that Texarkana will be the team to beat this year. The Saints, fueled by their past successes and a strong determination, are ready to take on the challenge.
Staff
Head Coach Brett Charlton begins his first season at the helm after spending the last four years as assistant coach upon the departure of Patrick Torres, who held the head coaching duties for four years. Charlton graduated with a bachelor's degree in Special Education and an endorsement in coaching and kinesiology from Eureka College, an NCAA D3 school in Eureka, Ill.
Assistant Coach Henry Spillers enters his second season. This year marks his 27th coaching at the collegiate, high school and youth levels. Spillers is a graduate of New Mexico University and served in the U.S. Army for five years and the Air National Guard for eight years.
Newcomers
On the men's side, Charlton and Spillers welcome freshmen Marc Castro, a Medina Valley High School graduate in La Coste, Texas, and Isai Moran, a Great Hearts Northern Oaks graduate in El Paso, Texas.
The women's newcomers include Ava Caballero, a native of San Antonio and an East Central High School graduate, and Claudia Helena Lopez, who graduated from Holmes High School in San Antonio.
Returners
Seniors Kruz Malesich, JoseCarlos Hernandez, Joseph Gonzalez, Diego Moran, Robert Rios and Andrew Ruiz are returning for the men. Juniors coming back are Ryan Aldana, Sabastian Moreno, Jose Saucedo and Jayden Turrubiates. Sophomores returning are Dominic Alonzo, Tony Favella, Vincent Garza, Jose Perez, Sigifredo Salinas and Joshua Veliz.
Garza was named RRAC Freshman of the Year in 2023. He placed third overall in the meet. Malesich was the runner-up for the individual medal. Garza and Malesich, along with Hernandez, Moreno and Saucedo all made the All-Conference Team after finishing in the top 10 of the meet.
Women's returners include senior Sierra Ramirez; juniors Mia Curiel, Jasmine Hernandez, Liliana Hernandez and Leilani Leza; and sophomores Victoria Bartlett, Valeria Peña, Madison Perez, Jocelyn Reyes and Daylah Vega.
Last season, Curiel placed third, Ramirez sixth, and Leza seventh. All three were named to the All-Conference team.
Schedule overview
The women are scheduled to run the 4000m at 8:45 p.m., while the men are scheduled to run the 6000m at 9:15 p.m. at the UIW Twilight at the Classics Elite Soccer Complex, located at 11600 Starcrest Dr., San Antonio, 78247. The Saints will return for another UIW meet—the UIW Invitational, which will be held at Windcrest Golf Club in Windcrest, Texas, on Sept. 13. The men will run the 8000m beginning at 8 a.m., and the women will follow in the 5000m at 8:40 a.m.
[The following meets are scheduled to be the 5000m for the women and the 8000 for the men.]
OLLU will host the Saints Cross-Country Invite on Sept. 13 and the OLLU Cross-Country Invite on Oct. 12 at Windcrest.
The team will head out to Bryan-College Station for the Arturo Barrios Invitational hosted by Texas A&M University on Oct. 18.
The Saints will then prepare to host and vie for their 10th RRAC Championship title on Nov. 1 at Windcrest.
Fan attendance
The Saints aim to provide a top-tier fan experience at all events. Athletics will be hosting the ninth annual OLLU Saints Golf Classic later on Nov. 1, and Charlton encourages Saints fans to first come cheer on the Saints in the conference meet. Fan support is crucial to the Saints' success, and they look forward to everyone being a part of their journey this season.
Hear from Head Coach Brett Charlton as he discusses the 2024 season: