Nov. 14, 2008

HOUSTON--The University of Houston men and women's cross-country team will travel to compete in the NCAA Cross Country South Central Regional meet at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco, Texas.

The women's race will begin at 10 a.m. and the men's race will start at 10:45 a.m.

The Cougars competed in the Conference USA Championships on Nov. 1, where the women placed fifth in the 5K and the men placed sixth in the 8K.

Freshman ninth-place finisher Stephanie Aldea received Houston's first-ever Conference USA Freshman of the Year honor.

Both Aldea and freshman Starla Garcia received conference honors for their finishes. Garcia finished in the 21st spot.

Freshman Megan Munoz finished in the 29th spot with a time of 18:31. Junior Erica Hannemann (19:14), and freshman Brandi Witte (19:18) finished 45th and 46th, respectively.

Overall, the women finished fifth with a total 145 points.

The men took sixth in the 8K, with a total of 156 points. Freshman Anthony Jordan led the Cougar pack in the 28th spot, with a time of 26:51.

Freshman Nate Pineda placed 30th with a time of 27:00. Freshmen Andres Santaolalla (27:01), Jesse Rodriguez (27:02) and Stephan Keller (27:04), and juniors Mauricio Morales (27:06) and Antony Keller (27:09) finished 35th through 39th, respectively. Freshman Cole Bessner rounded out the Cougars in the 46 spot with a time of 28:18.

Check out UHCougars.com for information and recap following Saturday's meet.