The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Bill Dellinger Invitational
Cross Country finishes seventh at Bill Dellinger Invitational
09.28.2019 | Track & Field / Cross Country
The Longhorns wrapped up their weekend at one of the nation’s premier regular-season meets.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The University of Texas Men's and Women's Cross Country teams each finished seventh in the talent-laden Bill Dellinger Invitational on Saturday.
The Texas men, who were receiving votes in last week's USTFCCCA national rankings, finished Saturday's 8,000-meter race ahead of two ranked teams, Air Force (No. 27) and Villanova (No. 29).
Junior Sam Worley led the Longhorn men with an 11th-place individual finish and a time of 23:50.9. Senior John Rice ran a 24:15.8 and freshman Haftu Knight turned in a 24:17.3.
"We didn't travel across the country to finish seventh," Texas men's distance coach Pete Watson said. "Late in the race when crucial decisions needed to be made, we didn't commit. We need to be better. Sam Worley ran a nice race up front. He made the decision to be in the lead group and he put himself up there. This was a very deep field with guys who will lead the pack at NCAA Championships. That was a valuable experience for him.
"The young freshmen learned what college racing is all about. They ran hard and learned some valuable lessons that will make us better next week."
The Texas women, also receiving votes in the USFTCCCA poll, finished ahead of ninth-ranked UCLA in the team standings.
The Longhorn women were led by seniors Kathryn Gillespie (20:34.2) and Destiny Collins (20:34.3), who finished one-tenth of a second apart in 26th and 27th place on the 6,000-meter course.
"I thought the meet went well," said women's distance coach PattiSue Plumer. "We moved up as a team throughout the race and were just a few surges out of a top-five finish. It puts us in a good position going forward in the second half of the season."
Eleventh-ranked Oregon won the men's competition and sixth-ranked BYU won the women's.
Both Texas teams are slated to compete in next week's Chile Pepper Cross Country festival on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Players Mentioned
