Friday, September 1
Beaumont, Texas
University of Houston
at
Lamar Early Bird Opener
Women Rank 13th Regionally, Leaders Return
8/31/2023 10:07:00 AM | Cross Country
Houston returns majority of roster, ready for Big 12 jump
HOUSTON – The Houston Cross Country team didn't have a lot of holes to plug from 2022 but still reloaded with a strong class as the Cougars look ahead to Friday's season opening Early Bird Opener at Lamar.
MEET INFORMATION
Friday, Sept. 1
Women's 4k – 6:30 p.m.
Men's 6k – 7 p.m.
Beaumont, Texas
Cris Quinn Soccer Complex
Live Results
The women enter the season ranked 13th in the South Central Region in the USTFCCCA Coaches Preseason Poll after finishing 12th overall at the Region Championship a season ago.
Houston returns five of its seven women that competed at the 2022 NCAA Regional. Led by Claire Meyer at all six meets in 2022, the senior looks to improve on her historic campaign that saw her become Houston's first All-Conference honoree in the American Athletic Conference and earn All-Region honors for the first time since 2019.
Seniors Kelly-Ann Beckford, Zosia Bulhak and juniors Eleni Kaiser and Erin Rivera round out the five returners for the Cougars that helped Houston finish 12th overall at the South Central Region Championships, the best team finish since 2019.
The Cougars welcome one newcomer on the women's side that is ranked 13th in the South Central Region by the USTFCCCA Coaches Preseason Poll. Carly Ahrens, a freshman from Kingwood, Texas joins the Cougars after earning All-State honors in 2019, 2020-21 and finished 15th overall at the UIL 6A State Cross Country Championships as a senior in 2022.
There was only one departure from the men's side that took five Cougars to the South Central Regional led by senior Brandon Seagreaves. Seagreaves returns after earning his first-career All-Region honors in 2022, becoming Houston's first All-Region honoree on the men's side since Brian Barraza in 2017. Junior Carlos Castillo, sophomore Miles Cox and graduate Brycen Pitre return along with senior Branch Cox and sophomore Aidan Killian.
Six new faces join the men's ranks with five freshmen and a sophomore transfer adding youthfulness to the roster. Sophomore Benym Fantue, a Stephen F. Austin transfer, finished 18th at the McNeese Season Opener in 2022 as a freshman, which would have been Houston's fifth finisher of the meet that Seagreaves finished runner-up at.
Of the freshman, Michael Archie finished 13th overall at the 6A State Championship meet in 2022 and is a two-time Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships qualifier. Alan Bonner was the Cy-Fair District Champion at Bridgeland High. Aaron Crittenden brings multiple state championship podium finishes from the 5A level at Ellison High. Patrick Flowers also finished 13th at the State Championships but at the 4A level and was the 2022 USATF 5,000 meters silver medalist on the track. Derek Waite was a two-time NXR South Regional Championships qualifier (2021-22) and finished 21st at the 6A State Championship in 2021.
Along with the host, Lamar, Houston will compete against fellow Division I opponents McNeese, Northwestern State and Louisiana on Friday.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win in the Big 12. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
– UHCougars.com –
MEET INFORMATION
Friday, Sept. 1
Women's 4k – 6:30 p.m.
Men's 6k – 7 p.m.
Beaumont, Texas
Cris Quinn Soccer Complex
Live Results
The women enter the season ranked 13th in the South Central Region in the USTFCCCA Coaches Preseason Poll after finishing 12th overall at the Region Championship a season ago.
Houston returns five of its seven women that competed at the 2022 NCAA Regional. Led by Claire Meyer at all six meets in 2022, the senior looks to improve on her historic campaign that saw her become Houston's first All-Conference honoree in the American Athletic Conference and earn All-Region honors for the first time since 2019.
Seniors Kelly-Ann Beckford, Zosia Bulhak and juniors Eleni Kaiser and Erin Rivera round out the five returners for the Cougars that helped Houston finish 12th overall at the South Central Region Championships, the best team finish since 2019.
The Cougars welcome one newcomer on the women's side that is ranked 13th in the South Central Region by the USTFCCCA Coaches Preseason Poll. Carly Ahrens, a freshman from Kingwood, Texas joins the Cougars after earning All-State honors in 2019, 2020-21 and finished 15th overall at the UIL 6A State Cross Country Championships as a senior in 2022.
There was only one departure from the men's side that took five Cougars to the South Central Regional led by senior Brandon Seagreaves. Seagreaves returns after earning his first-career All-Region honors in 2022, becoming Houston's first All-Region honoree on the men's side since Brian Barraza in 2017. Junior Carlos Castillo, sophomore Miles Cox and graduate Brycen Pitre return along with senior Branch Cox and sophomore Aidan Killian.
Six new faces join the men's ranks with five freshmen and a sophomore transfer adding youthfulness to the roster. Sophomore Benym Fantue, a Stephen F. Austin transfer, finished 18th at the McNeese Season Opener in 2022 as a freshman, which would have been Houston's fifth finisher of the meet that Seagreaves finished runner-up at.
Of the freshman, Michael Archie finished 13th overall at the 6A State Championship meet in 2022 and is a two-time Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships qualifier. Alan Bonner was the Cy-Fair District Champion at Bridgeland High. Aaron Crittenden brings multiple state championship podium finishes from the 5A level at Ellison High. Patrick Flowers also finished 13th at the State Championships but at the 4A level and was the 2022 USATF 5,000 meters silver medalist on the track. Derek Waite was a two-time NXR South Regional Championships qualifier (2021-22) and finished 21st at the 6A State Championship in 2021.
Along with the host, Lamar, Houston will compete against fellow Division I opponents McNeese, Northwestern State and Louisiana on Friday.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win in the Big 12. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
– UHCougars.com –
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/ Cross CountryCross Country Early Bird Opener Recap
Monday, September 04