The American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 28, 2017. The UH cross country team began its 2021 season on Sunday. | Photo by Mitchell Leff/American Athletic Conference

In its lone meet of the cross country season before the American Athletic Conference Championships in February, the Houston cross country team put together a series of strong performances that resulted in a second-place finish for the men’s team and a third-place finish for the women’s team at the Houston Baptist/Lamar Triangular at HBU.

Junior Devin Vallejo-Bannister led the way for the men’s side, posting a second-place finish in the men’s 5K with a time of 16:08.90.

Two more runners joined Vallejo-Bannister in the top 10 for the Cougars in the men’s 5K, as junior Gabriel Armijo finished in sixth place with a time of 16:30.40 and senior Devin Fahey came in ninth place at 16:48.00.

In his first collegiate meet, freshman Juan Olmos finished not far behind, finishing in 12th place with a time of 17:01.60.

UH cross country junior Tyler Keranen (18:23.80) and senior Issac Pearce (18:43.10) rounded out the men’s team with 21st and 22nd-place finishes.

On the women’s side, junior Madeline Castleberry was the first to finish the women’s 5K for the Cougars, posting a third-place finish with a time of 19:39.50.

Freshman Macie Ellis joined Castleberry in the top 10, finishing in eighth place with a time of 20:41.10, with sophomore Sondos Moursy just missing out in 11th place with a time of 21:22.50.

Freshman Hannah Gault (22:00.40) and junior Hannah Barker (25:42.80) rounded out the women’s side for the Cougars with 15th and 27th-place finishes.

The next competition for the UH cross country program will see them head to Augusta, Kansas, for the 2021 AAC Championships on Feb. 6 at the 4 Mile Creek Resort.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“UH cross country posts strong performance in its lone meet” was originally posted on The Cougar