ABILENE - As the 2024 cross country season approaches, the ACU Wildcats are ready to hit the ground running with a blend of experienced athletes and promising new talent. With a challenging schedule ahead, both the men's and women's teams are set to compete against tough regional and conference opponents, looking to build on past successes and make their mark in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
Season Schedule Overview
ACU Naimadu Classic (Aug. 30, Abilene, TX)
The Wildcats will kick off their season at home with the ACU Naimadu Classic, honoring ACU's legendary distance runner, Nicodemus Naimadu. This meet will take place in the evening with the women's race at 6:45 p.m. and the men's race at 7:15 p.m. at Zoe Park.
Gerald Richey UTA Invitational (Sept. 7, Arlington, TX)
The team will then travel to Arlington to compete in the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational. This event will offer ACU athletes the chance to measure themselves against other local and regional teams, providing a competitive environment to hone their skills and gauge early-season form.
Gans Creek Classic (Sept. 27, Columbia, MO)
Later in September, the Wildcats head to Columbia, Missouri, for the Gans Creek Classic. Hosted by the University of Missouri, this meet attracts strong collegiate competition, making it a valuable experience for the team as they prepare for more challenging races later in the season.
Arturo Barrios Invitational (Oct. 18, College Station, TX)
In mid-October, ACU will compete at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station. Known for its challenging course and high-caliber field, this meet will provide a significant test for the Wildcats and a key preparation event ahead of the conference championships.
WAC Championships (Nov. 1, Orem, UT)
The season will culminate with the WAC Championships, where the Wildcats will aim to put their training and competitive experience to the test. Success here is crucial for the team's hopes of advancing to national competitions and earning recognition within the conference.
Team Outlook
Key Returners
Junior Peyton Bornstein from Tolland, Connecticut, was a standout for ACU last season, finishing as one of the top three Wildcats in all six cross country meets. She led the team in the first two meets and was ACU's second finisher at the WAC Championships and South Central Regional, showcasing her consistent performance and reliability.
Senior Katelyn Coldicott from Jonestown, Texas, had a breakout cross country season last year, consistently finishing among the top four Wildcats in all six meets. She peaked towards the end, leading ACU in the final three meets, including a third-place finish at the Naimadu Classic with a personal-best 6K time of 22:26, a 36th-place finish at the WAC Championship, and 81st at the South Central Regional meet, where she was the only ACU female in the top half of the field.
Senior Kevin Castruita, from Pflugerville, Texas, led the ACU men's cross country team last season, finishing as the top Wildcat in all six races. He set a new personal-best 8K time of 24:31 with an 11th-place finish at the Texas A&M Invitational. Castruita's 18th-place finish at the WAC Championships earned him All-Conference honors, and he capped off the season with a 28th-place finish at the South Central Regional Championships.
Junior Samuel Lanham from Calvert City, Kentucky, has shown steady improvement since joining ACU. In 2023, he was ACU's #2 finisher in three meets: the Chile Pepper XC Festival, the ACU Naimadu Classic (placing 5th with an 8K personal-best of 24:50), and the WAC Championship where he finished 41st—an impressive 45-place improvement from 2022. Lanham also set a new 10K personal-best time of 32:48 at the South Central Region meet, finishing 111th.
Newcomers
Audrey Chitwood, from Boise, Idaho, brings an impressive resume to ACU. At Mountain View High School, she placed 4th in the 1600m and 11th in the 800m at the Idaho 5A state meet as a senior, setting personal bests that ranked in the top 10 statewide. Chitwood was named Female Athlete of the Year at her high school and consistently qualified for the state cross country meet.
Hannah Kasper, from Tampa, Florida, brings strong credentials to ACU. In her senior year at Cambridge Christian, she placed 2nd in the Florida 1A state meet 3200m with a personal best of 11:00.60 and 7th in the state cross country meet. Kasper also excelled indoors, finishing 3rd in the Florida State Indoor 3K and competing in the New Balance Nationals indoor 5K.
Benjamin Castro from McGregor, Texas, closed out his high school career with impressive performances. Castro was ranked among the top 45 in the 800m and 59 in the 1600m in Texas and earned a spot on the Texas High School Coaches Association 3A Super Elite Team. He also holds McGregor High School records in the 800m (1:54.18), 1600m (4:18.79), 3200m (9:43.35), and 5K cross country (15:43.2).
Goals for the Season
Aiming to improve their standings from previous seasons, both the men's and women's teams are focused on placing high in the conference meet. Individual athletes will also look to earn all-conference honors.
"The purpose of everything we do is for the championship portion of the season," said Cross Country head coach Nathan Meeuwenberg. "We will do our best to be ready when it matters most."
Success in regular-season meets and the conference championship will set the stage for potential postseason competition, aiming for qualification at the regional and national levels.
Catch the Cross Country Team at Zoe Park on Friday, Aug. 30 starting with the women at 6:45 p.m. and the men soon after at 7:30 p.m. Admission for the meet is free, and you can find out more at
acusports.com.
