Men’s cross country struggles at AAC, eyes regional comeback

rice-athletics-mens-xc-only-if-needed-to-fill-space

Junior cross country runner Ben Tijerina runs during the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship. He led the Owls, placing 22nd. Courtesy Rice Athletics

By Ana Rivera 11/5/24 11:29pm

The Rice Owls men’s cross country team finished in eighth place in the 2024 American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships Nov. 1 in Wichita, Kansas, with 215 points. Runners said unexpected challenges left the team grappling to meet pre-race expectations.

“We came into the meet expecting to be in the mix for a top four finish,” men’s cross country head coach Jon Warren said. “On a good day, we felt confident about hitting that mark, but cross country can be unpredictable, and unfortunately, our two strongest runners faced unexpected issues that threw us off course.”

The team’s top runner, junior Gus Gannon, was unable to finish the race due to medical reasons, and sophomore Brandon Martz, typically also a consistent scorer, was hindered by medical issues that affected his usual performance.

“If you had asked me which two runners I’d least want to have an off day, it would’ve been Gus and Brandon,” Warren said. “They’re the backbone of our lineup. Their struggles were like running with one arm tied behind our back.”

In their absence, junior Ben Tijerina delivered a standout performance, crossing the line in 22nd place with a time of 25:02.

“Ben really rose to the occasion,” Warren said. “That was the best race he’s run at Rice. He didn’t let the day’s setbacks get to him — he showed a lot of maturity and grit out there.”

Tijerina said his control in the first 2K was the key to his success.

“[The runners] went out really fast, unusually fast,” Tijerina said. “I let that front pack pull away while I kept my pace steady.”

Tijerina said that the dry air was an additional challenge.

“The air was unusually dry, which made it difficult to breathe,” Tijerina said. “But the hardest part was mentally staying strong when everyone started to pull away. There’s always that uncertainty about catching them again.”

Despite the team’s challenges, Warren said he was optimistic as they look ahead to the NCAA South Central Regional meet Nov. 15 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

“This season has shown me the strength of their character and their commitment to each other,” Warren said. “They’ve built a strong foundation, and I know they’re ready to bounce back.”