STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Senior Diego Flores posted his best finish in his collegiate career leading Tarleton State Cross Country with a fifth-place performance in the squad's season opener at the John McKenzie Invitational on Friday morning at AP Ranch Championship Course.
 
Flores posted the Texan men's best individual finish in the program's four seasons at the John McKenzie Invitational. The senior's fifth-place finish broke current Texan teammate Tyler Hedgepeth's sixth-place finish at the meet last season. Hedgepeth was the second Texan to cross the line this go-around, placing 12^th overall. The Texan men posted a third-place overall team finish, their second best in program history at the John McKenzie Invitational.
 
"Today was another important step in the process for our team," said head coach Bobby Carter. "We're not focused on trying to be our best all at once, but we're focused on getting better every time we compete. The John McKenzie Invitational gave us another opportunity to race, learn, and build confidence. We'll take what we learned today, continue to develop, and keep building each meet as we work toward where we want to be at the end of the season."
 
On the women's side four Texan freshman competed along with one returner driving the Texans to a fourth-place finish. Freshman Ava Tannehill paced the Purple and White earning 14^th place overall. Fellow freshman Sadie Larson was the second Texan to cross posting a top 25 performance.
 
Men

Flores' was the Texans top finisher for his second-straight meet dating back to the last year's South Central Region Championship. Flores placed fifth overall, the highest by a Texan man in program history at the John McKenzie Invitational. Flores climbed through the pack throughout the race to be in the lead pack at the end. The senior passed a few in the lead pack at the tail end of the race to reach the top five crossing in 15:49.8.
 
Tyler Hedgepeth was the second Texan to finish, placing 12^th overall crossing in 16:11.6. The Purple and White traveled in a pack with Ethan Johnston closely trailing Hedgepeth clocking in at 16:26.9 to place 16^th overall. Michael Fuller was the next to finish, recording a 18^th place performance in 16:45.5. Will Kimmel crossed in 21^st overall in 16:59.9.
 
The Texan men placed third overall, the second highest in program history at the John McKenzie Invitational. North Texas claimed the men's team title scoring 24 points with three of the top four individual finishers. TCU came in second with 37 points followed by the Texans with 68 points. East Texas A&M finished fourth with 104 points. North Texas' Connor Bartek took the individual crown crossing the line in 15:34.0. Nolan House also of North Texas placed second in 15:39.3.
 
Women

Freshman Tannehill paced the Texan women placing 14^th overall. In her collegiate debut she jumped in the opening pack and crossed in 19:00.2. Sadie Larson was the second Texan to cross, placing in 23^rd overall in 19:37.0. Returner, Kaitlyn Gale, crossed next in 19:44.7 to place 26^th overall. Rylie Rivers closed in sprinting fashion to claim 27^th overall in 19:47.7. Sophia Sandoval was the final Texan to cross the line 20:54.5 in 30^th place. Lincoln Husbands began the race but did not finish.
 
In the team side of the meet, the Texan women placed fourth with 96 points. SMU won the meet, placing five of the top six overall finishers with 17 points. TCU claimed second with 56 points and North Texas claimed third with 84 points. Rose Mburu claimed the individual title crossing in 17:28.5 just ahead of her teammate Mary Nyangate who placed second in 17:29.4.
 
Tarleton State Cross Country will be back on the course for its second race of the season Sept. 26 at the Cowboy Jamboree. It will mark the Texans first meet in Stillwater, Okla., with a field full of nationally ranked programs. Be sure to follow @tarletonxctrack on Instagram and X for the latest updates, highlights and content.