FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – History was made for East Texas A&M University on Friday morning as the Lion cross country teams became the first group to take part in a NCAA-sponsored postseason event in the Division I era by racing at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships at Agri Park.
 
The Lion women took 24^th in the regional meet, totaling 673 points across their five runners, while the Lion men turned in a top 20 finish, recording 496 points for 19^th place.
 
For the Lion women, Haleigh Risner (Winnsboro) was the top finisher with a time of 23:15.8 for 125^th place in the six-kilometer race. Mareva Heck (Marseille, France) came in 143^rd with a time of 23:40.1, followed by Edith Martinez (Sulphur Springs) in 145^th place with a time of 23:44.2.
 
Hannah Stuart (Canyon) took 169^th place with a time of 25:17.7 and Aamarie Ebarb (Weslaco) timed 26:33.6 for 173^rd.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi's Elizabeth Khatevi was the top finisher in the regional race with a time of 19:33.6, while Texas A&M won the team regional championship with a score of 71 points. Full results of the meet can be found HERE.
 
On the men's side, the Lions were led in the 10-kilometer race by Jeremiah Garcia (Northwest Eaton), who came in 70^th with a time of 32:08.9, with Josh Shanahan (Noosaville, Australia) coming in 79^th place with a time of 32:18.2.
 
Yosef Abdulrazeq (Mansfield Legacy) followed with a time of 33:44.3 for 131^st, then Taylor Warrick (Stockdale) took 133^rd with a time of 33:50.0, Naataanii Collins (Edcouch-Elsa) timed 34:00.8 for 140^th, Noah Fernandez (San Antonio Central Catholic) timed 35;02.5 for 152^nd and Christian James (Rosharon – Manvel) finished 157^th with a time of 35:58.1.
 
The men's race was won by Arkansas' Timothy Chesondin with a time of 28:44.4. Tulane took the team team championship with a score of 44, two points ahead of Arkansas. Full race results can be found HERE.
 

POST RACE INTERVIEW