FORT WORTH – Newcomers led the way for the East Texas A&M University men's cross country team in its season-opening race at the John McKenzie Invitational on Friday morning at the AP Ranch.
 
The Lion men took fourth in the first race of the year with 104 points, with junior transfer Samuel Pepe (Hillsboro) finishing 14^th with a time of 16:21.4 in the 5,000 meter race. Ricky Santos (Keene) clocked in at 17:11.5 for 23^rd.
 
Andrew Crosby (McKinney – Boyd) finished 27^th with a time of 17:37.5, while Christian James (Rosharon – Manvel) timed 17:42.3 for 28^th, and Noah Converse (The Colony) recorded a time of 18:18.7 for 29^th.
 
North Texas' Connor Bartek came out victorious with a time of 15:34.0. The Mean Green also won the team title, edging out TCU, Tarleton and the Lions.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions are back on the course in Fort Worth for the Gerald Richey Invitational next Friday.