Friday, October 31
Arlington, Texas
Abilene Christian
vs
WAC Championships
Photo by: Josh Beam
Wildcats Run in WAC Championship Meet on Friday
10/30/2025 2:00:00 PM | Cross Country
The ACU men's cross country team, fresh off a strong showing at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, heads to Arlington to compete in the WAC's final XC Championship on Friday. The strong showing at the Barrios helped propel ACU to #10 in the South Central Region rankings – the highest spot ACU has ever appeared in the South Central rankings since the move to Division I, surpassing a #12 spot in 2020. The ACU men have been climbing steadily in the region rankings throughout the season.
The ACU men will be lead by sophomore Andruw Villa, who placed 10th in the WAC XC meet last season, garnering first-team All-Conference honors. Also returning to the championship this year is Kevin Castruita, who was second-team All-WAC in 2023 before a redshirt year in 2024. Another Wildcat enjoying a breakout year is Carlos Cortez, who has set personal bests this season at the 5K, 6K and 8K distances. Also running for the Wildcats will be Mark Barajas, Vincent Luffey, Benji Castro, Mikhail Fortner, Austin Roberts, and Matthew Engle.
In the Pre-Championship Coaches Poll, the California Baptist men are tabbed to win the event. CBU is the only WAC team ranked nationally, as they are #17 in the nation and 3rd in the West Region. Utah Valley is the pre-championship pick for 2nd (ranked #7 in the Mountain Region) and Southern Utah is the pick for 3rd. ACU is ranked #10 in the South Central Region, with Tarleton State (13th in the region) and UT Arlington (14th in the region) close behind. The fight for 3rd place in the team race should be fierce.
The ACU women have been unable to break into the South Central Region rankings this year, but are coming off a very encouraging performance at the Arturo Barrios Invitational. In the pre-championship poll, 2024 runner-up CBU, which is ranked #6 in the West Region, is picked to win it all. Last year's champion Utah Valley (9th in the Mountain Region) is picked in the runner-up spot this year. Host UTA, ranked #11 in the South Central Region, is picked 3rd. ACU will be in the running for a top-5 finish.
The ACU women have been led the last two meets by grad transfer Chloe McLellan, who has been running high personal bests all season. Last year's top ACU finisher, Audrey Chitwood, coming off a medical redshirt spring, ran her best race of the season at the Barrios. Freshman Saylor Stevenson has run as the #2 ACU finisher the past two weeks. Other runners representing the Purple and White this weekend will be Hannah Kasper, Madison Anderson, Hadley Phillips, Kate Williams, and Alyssa Quinones.
The WAC Championship will be hosted by UTA at the Harold Patterson Sports Center in Arlington. The men's 8K race will start at 9 a.m. and the women's 6K race at 10 a.m. on Friday.
The ACU men will be lead by sophomore Andruw Villa, who placed 10th in the WAC XC meet last season, garnering first-team All-Conference honors. Also returning to the championship this year is Kevin Castruita, who was second-team All-WAC in 2023 before a redshirt year in 2024. Another Wildcat enjoying a breakout year is Carlos Cortez, who has set personal bests this season at the 5K, 6K and 8K distances. Also running for the Wildcats will be Mark Barajas, Vincent Luffey, Benji Castro, Mikhail Fortner, Austin Roberts, and Matthew Engle.
In the Pre-Championship Coaches Poll, the California Baptist men are tabbed to win the event. CBU is the only WAC team ranked nationally, as they are #17 in the nation and 3rd in the West Region. Utah Valley is the pre-championship pick for 2nd (ranked #7 in the Mountain Region) and Southern Utah is the pick for 3rd. ACU is ranked #10 in the South Central Region, with Tarleton State (13th in the region) and UT Arlington (14th in the region) close behind. The fight for 3rd place in the team race should be fierce.
The ACU women have been unable to break into the South Central Region rankings this year, but are coming off a very encouraging performance at the Arturo Barrios Invitational. In the pre-championship poll, 2024 runner-up CBU, which is ranked #6 in the West Region, is picked to win it all. Last year's champion Utah Valley (9th in the Mountain Region) is picked in the runner-up spot this year. Host UTA, ranked #11 in the South Central Region, is picked 3rd. ACU will be in the running for a top-5 finish.
The ACU women have been led the last two meets by grad transfer Chloe McLellan, who has been running high personal bests all season. Last year's top ACU finisher, Audrey Chitwood, coming off a medical redshirt spring, ran her best race of the season at the Barrios. Freshman Saylor Stevenson has run as the #2 ACU finisher the past two weeks. Other runners representing the Purple and White this weekend will be Hannah Kasper, Madison Anderson, Hadley Phillips, Kate Williams, and Alyssa Quinones.
The WAC Championship will be hosted by UTA at the Harold Patterson Sports Center in Arlington. The men's 8K race will start at 9 a.m. and the women's 6K race at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Players Mentioned
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/ Cross Country
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