Dallas Cross Country Begins With a Bang

In their first meet of the season the UD harriers got of to a great start at the season opening UT-Tyler Invitational in Tyler, TX Saturday morning. Senior Angela Cuba (Holliday, TX/Holliday H.S.) finished the 5k race in eighth place with a time of 21:03 to lead the women’s team to a third place finish with 92 points in the six team race. Greg Pivarunas (Elma, NY/St. Francis H.S.) led on the men’s side with a 28:36 in the 8k race to finish in ninth place. Sophomore Heather Capozzella (22:51) and junior Theresa Smart (23.12) both finished in the top 20 with 14th and 17th place finishes as the Cuba and the Lady Crusaders fell to first place finisher Northwood College and meet host UT-Tyler in the season opener. Freshman Megan Deras (Omaha, NE/Duchesne Academy) finished in 23rd place in 24:03, freshman Laura Downes (Simpsonville, KY/Corpus Christi H.S.) placed 31st in 25:41, and Aida Manganiello (Lindale, TX/Lindale H.S.) ran a 27:14 to round out the UD competitors. After Pivarunas’ ninth place finish, Alex Bukaty (New Orleans, LA/Jesuit H.S.) crossed the line in 31:47 for a 29th place race. Clinton Heyer (33:52), Billy Gibula (Richmond, TX/Strake Jesuit H.S.) 34:08, and Andrew Natalie (Appleton, WI/Appleton North H.S.) 37:46 also ran for the men’s squad. Dallas returns to the course next weekend at the McMurry Invitational in Abilene, TX on Saturday, September 12. The meet begins at 8:30pm.