BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Texas Southmost College will host the NJCAA Region 14 Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Brownsville Sports Park.
For TSC Cross Country Head Coach Basilio Mendoza, hosting the championships gives the Scorpions a rare opportunity to race at home and welcome programs from across Texas to the Rio Grande Valley.
“We keep driving and everywhere we go, it’s at least four hours,” Mendoza said. “We wanted to bring them over here. We wanted to bring Blinn College, Jacksonville College and every other college here. We want to welcome them here.”
The TSC women enter the championships ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA Division II Women’s National Coaches’ Poll and feature two of Region 14’s fastest runners this season.
Sophomore Angela Soto has recorded the region’s top time at 18 minutes, 41.20 seconds, while freshman Emily Ortiz ranks second at 18:44.60.
“Our men and women are going to shoot for the double championship,” Mendoza said. “It’s going to be tough. The girls have a good shot. For the guys, it’ll be a dogfight with Blinn College.”
The TSC men enter the championships ranked No. 20 in the NJCAA Division II Men’s National Coaches’ Poll. Sophomore Ubaldo Flores has recorded the sixth-fastest time in Region 14 at 25:39.60.
With runners from across the Rio Grande Valley competing for TSC, Mendoza hopes the championships will draw support from the college community as well as local runners, high school athletes and coaches.
“We want to welcome everybody,” Mendoza said. “We got kids from Brownsville, the Mid-Valley, Upper Valley and Lower Valley here in one spot. We’re hoping high school coaches come cheer us and the schools bring their kids to see their friends run against big-time schools.”
Admission to the NJCAA Region 14 Cross Country Championships is free. The women’s 5K race will start at 8:30 a.m. The men’s 8K race will get underway at 9 a.m.
About Texas Southmost College
Originally established in 1926, Texas Southmost College currently offers the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree, along with career and technical education leading to certificates and associate degrees, college preparatory studies to prepare students for college-level work, workforce training, and continuing education. TSC offers over 60 programs of study leading to an associate degree or certificate.
