SAN ANTONIO – The Trinity Tigers took the UIW Invitational in stride, each side managing the race's longer distance well. The men took the start lines first, running their first 8k of the season, followed by the women, running a 5k, still short of the 6k they will be running at Conference and the races beyond. 

The added distance wouldn't prove to be an issue for them, and leading the way for a women's side that would take 3rd on the day was a familiar face for the Tigers, senior Gianna Keena (Lakeway, Texas / Lake Travis). Running an impressive 17:26, an 8 second personal best that outdid even her best performances on the track, she managed to hold off a late surge to hold onto a 4th place individual finish. Following her through the line was Emerson Voldan (Arlington, Texas / Mansfield Summit), running through the finish in a time of 18:06 to finish within the top 15, beating out an opponent in the last 100 meters to take 14th.

Strong late finishes would be the story of the day for the women's team; with a team average time of 18:10, the Tigers' day would be defined by a series of strong final laps, an outcome that will leave them encouraged going into the next set of races, races that will be another kilometer longer. 

For their part, the men's team have hit the distance threshold for the rest of their season, breaking in a relatively young squad on their first full 8k. Sophomore George Mikhael (Livermore, Calif. / Granada) opened the season's first full race with fireworks, running a 10 second personal best and coming through in 25:46 to take the second to last spot in the top 10. Close behind was freshman Layton Carlisle (Houston, TX / Bridegland) rounding out the top 15 and setting himself a solid opening benchmark performance of 26:18.

The men's side finished just 5 points back from UTSA, running a team average of 26:33 and taking 5th, a time they will look to improve with the benefit of experience. With their scorers made up of only one upperclassman, two sophomores, and two freshmen, they will be hoping for wisdom to pair with talent, on what is shaping up to be a strong set of underclassmen. 

The Tigers will return on the third of October, splitting their squad into two for the first time this season. The top 10 from each side will race on the nationals course in Minnesota, the other group returning to Windcrest for the OLLU Invitational.