The Lamar University cross country teams recorded 17 personal bests in a field of national competition at the Arturo Barrios Invitational hosted by Texas A&M, Oct. 18.
Both teams scored top 20 finishes as the women took eighth with 228 points while the men were 20th with 554.
The men opened the day with an 8k meet as all nine runners set personal records. Freddy Ricardson (26th; 23:24.4) was one second off of finishing in the top 25 as he crossed the line first for LU. Lloyd Sheppard-Brown took home 45th with a PR of 23:41.1. Jonathan Rivera (139th) set a new personal best of 24:27.5 while he and Alexis Rodriguez (200th; 24:53.1) each placed in the top 200. Andres Padon (214th; 24:57.8), Riley Trent (222nd; 25:01.3) and Treyton Showen (290th; 25:36.2) took spots in the top 300. Adrian Han Vadstein (25:53.3) and Brian Woolums (25:56.1) crossed the line 315th and 317th respectively.
Following the men’s meet, the women started their 6k race and had eight runners pick up personal bests. Once again, Nia Clatworthy was the top runner for LU as she crossed the line in 15th place with a new personal best of 19:43.0. Cara Inch rounded out the top 30 with a personal best of 20:06.7. Inca Padfield (53rd; 20:31.5), Annabel Hobday (65th; 20:40.6), Ashton Rainey (143rd; 21:32.0), Anna Eischen (236th; 22:21), Natalee Bergeron (354th; 24:03.4), and Eleana Campos (374th; 24:30.3) also set PR’s while Mykayla Mims (22:35.5) and Claire Bibb (25:38.7) took 261st and 390th, respectively.
The Cardinals now turn their attention to the Southland Conference Championship meet, which will take place in New Orleans, Nov. 1 at Lake Oaks Park.