Hill College men’s cross country team earns school’s first-ever conference title at NTJCAC/Region 5 Championships

  Jessyca Brown
  Monday, November 7, 2022 4:25 PM
  Athletics

Hillsboro, TX

Hill College’s cross country program, now only in its second year, continues to make a strong name for itself as the men’s team went from dead last in 2021 to winning it’s first-ever North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference title – as well as placed fifth in Region 5 – at Saturday’s NTJCAC/Region 5 Championships in Hobbs, New Mexico.

Sophomore Jared Lautenslager finished first overall in the 8K race, and his time of 23 minutes 55.7 seconds was also good enough to place third in the Region 5 pool of 52 runners (just 24 seconds behind the overall Region 5 winner).

Other teammates who helped secure the men’s NTJCAC title included Lydon Orr (second place in NTJCAC, 11th in Region 5) with a time of 25:32.20; Shea Johnson (third place in NTJCAC, 13th in Region 5) with a time of 26:01.5; Cris Santana (sixth place in JTJCAC, 23rd in Region 5) with a time of 26:49.4; Adrian Moreno (10th in NTJCAC, 29th in Region 5) with a time of 27:19.8; Jesse Martinez (17th in NTJCAC, 45th in Region 5) with a time of 29:31.2; and Joenniel Sanchez (18th in NTJCAC, 47th in Region 5) with a time of 29:46.50.

Although Hill College did not have enough runners on the women’s side to compete as a team, Kimberly Mata – who shaved 45 seconds off her previous school record in the 5K – placed 10th individually in conference (38th in Region 5) with a time of 23:09.70; Clarissa Yvette finished 15th in conference (47th in Region 5) with a time of 28:13.90; and Jiylene Santiago came in 16th in conference (49th in Region 5) with a time of 31:44.50.

The 2022 NJCAA Cross Country Men’s and Women’s Championships will be Nov. 12 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida and is presented by the U.S. Marines. The women’s race will begin at 9:30 a.m. (CDT), followed by the men’s race at 11 a.m. (CDT).