Cross-country sophomore Toby Eaton runs during the Western Athletic Conference championships Oct. 31 at the Harold Patterson Sports Center. Eaton finished in 15th place.
After concluding the Western Athletic Conference championship, the UTA cross-country teams are preparing to lace up and compete in the NCAA South Central Regional to commence the postseason’s national-level competition.
The women’s race kicks off at 9 a.m. and the men’s race starts at 10 a.m. Friday at Agri Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The meet features many schools running in a single race, serving as one of UTA’s biggest challenges of the season as they compete against Power Five schools. In addition to the South Central Regional, the NCAA will host eight other regional competitions, allowing the top two universities from each region to advance to the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Head coach John Sauerhage will lead the charge once again, having spearheaded the UTA running programs since 1996 and brought plenty of success. Sauerhage has coached 11 cross-country conference champions, and UTA athletes have earned over 100 league titles under his leadership.
Cross-country sophomore Justina Lusby finished in 52nd place during the Western Athletic Conference championships Oct. 31 at the Harold Patterson Sports Center. Lusby completed the women’s 6K with a time of 24:06.7.
The women’s team is led by freshman Dorcas Jepkosgei, who earned the WAC Cross Country Women’s Freshman of the Year award and All-WAC First Team honors. Jepkosgei has been on a tear this year with four top-two finishes and was named WAC Athlete of the Week three consecutive times. Jepkosgei is ranked 71st in the country and fifth in the South Central Regional.
Also highlighting the women’s team is junior Matro Jepkemboi, who earned a WAC Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year award in her 2023-24 debut season with the Mavericks. In her time at UTA, Jepkemboi has earned four silver medals, three bronze medals and three NCAA championship appearances.
The men’s team will be led by sophomore Toby Eaton, who is coming off a top-15 finish in the WAC championships with a time of 24:29.30 in the men’s 8K. Eaton earned All-WAC Second Team honors and will look to keep this momentum in the regionals.
Freshman Mateo Doherty is another men’s runner to look out for, as he finished 23rd in the WAC championships, pacing himself with a time of 24:47:90.
Last year, UTA placed 18th overall in men’s and 21st in women’s in regionals. Five runners placed in the top 100, with three Mavericks from the men’s team and two Mavericks from the women’s team. With the star-studded duo Jepkosgei and Jepkemboi, the women’s team is poised to make a statement this year ahead of the NCAA championships.
@tdreevess
