Cats Open Season in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH – Abilene Christian placed fourth in the men's race and sixth in the women's event at TCU's John McKenzie Cross Country Invitational Friday morning.
 
Kevin Castruita led the Wildcat men in 11th place at 15:17.20 with Gabe Embree (14th, 15:25.70) and Garrison Shindler (18th, 15:31.70) joining him in the top 20.
 
Freshman Zach Martin was 26th at 15:44.30 and Samuel Lanham rounded out the scoring at 15:47.30. Jacob Russell was 30th at 15:57.60 and freshman Mikhail Fortner rounded out the first seven at 15:57.60.
 
Also for the Wildcats, Neal Helgerson placed 43rd at 16:19.60, O'Brien Verdin was 46th at 16:31.20 and JP Trook finished 52nd at 16:51.80.
 
"It was a good first step," said ACU cross country coach Nathan Meeuwenberg. "Really like how Kevin and Gabe ran the back half of the race. They are tired from training because we are focused on October-November. We'll continue stacking good weeks of training and look forward to Texas A&M.
 
Peyton Bornstein was 27th at 19:03.50 to lead the ACU women. Katelyn Coldicott took 32nd at 19:09.10 and Tessa Holderman came in 35th at 19:19.70. Kate Hansen posted a 19:38.60 for 41st place and Bella Evans rounded out the scoring five in 43rd at 20:04.20.
 
Kate Williams (44th, 20:06.10) and Hadley Phillips (48th, 20:38.80) rounded out the top seven with Autumn Smith finishing 49th at 20:52.20.
 
"The women are tired like the men," Meeuwenberg said. "They are working hard. We are going to continue working on pack running. Katelynn Coldicott had a great run today. We'll continue to get better and be ready at the end of the season."
 
Texas A&M won the men's race with a perfect 15 points. TCU was second in 68 and Texas-Arlington was third at 88, narrowly edging the Wildcats' 89. Tarleton State finished fifth at 105 and North Texas was sixth at 158.
 
The Aggie also won the women's race with 21 points, followed by TCU (44), UTA (87), North Texas (126), Tarleton State (133) and ACU (138).
 
Next up for the Cats is the Texas A&M Invite in College Station on Sept. 15.
 
ACU results
Women 6th, 138 points
27. Peyton Bornstein, 19:03.50
32. Katelyn Coldicott, 19:09.10
35. Tessa Holderman, 19:19.70
41. Kate Hansen, 19:38.60
43. Bella Evans, 20:04.20
44. Kate Williams, 20:06.10
48. Hadley Phillips, 20:38.80
49. Autumn Smith, 20:52.20
 
Men 4th, 89 points
11. Kevin Castruita, 15:17.20
14. Game Embree, 15:25.70
18. Garrison Shindler, 15:31.70
26. Zachary Martin, 15:44.30
27. Samuel Lanham, 15:47.30
30. Jacob Russell, 15:57.60
37. Mikhail Fortner, 16:06.10
43. Neal Helgerson, 16:19.60
46. O'Brien Verdin, 16:31.20
52. JP Trook, 16:51.80