HOUSTON, Texas — The North American University Stallions hit the course for their second cross-country meet of the season at the Rice Invitational, and while the stopwatch says there is still work to do, the Stallions are showing signs that the training is starting to pay off.

On a flat 5.2K course, NAU was led by sophomore Abbott Acosta, who crossed the finish line in 19:04.60, good for 48th overall in the University Men's field and a 3:40 per-kilometer pace.

For Acosta, the performance continues a strong start to the season and earns him another spotlight nomination. Acosta is the Campus Runner of the Week, his second nomination for RRAC Runner of the Week and his first USCAA Runner of the Week nomination.

A.D. Coach Apande said, "Please nominate Abbott Acosta. He finished the 5.2K with 19:04."

Behind Acosta was Tyler Johns, who posted a 20:46.00, running at a 4:00/K pace. Gino Burioni followed with a 23:59.80, while Christopher Spight was unable to finish the race.

The numbers show that the Stallions still have approximately three minutes to chop off their team times, but that doesn't tell the entire story.

This was only the second race of the season, and the flat Rice course provided a different challenge from the terrain NAU runners have been training on. For a natural-terrain runner, learning how to translate that training onto a flat course takes time.

And as Master Yoda might say: "Ahead of the curve, we are."

Assistant Coach Adams knows the bigger picture.

"You don't want your runners to peak too early. Training for cross-country is a marathon in its own right. One step at a time."

That approach is exactly where the Stallions are right now — one step, one workout and one race at a time.

Coach Apande: Keep Chopping

Head Coach Kenneth Apande echoed the message to the team following the Rice Invitational:

"This past week we competed in the Rice Invitationals. It was another great event to improve on the week. It was a flat course with great times. Let's continue chopping down the times each week. I hope you enjoyed the weekend and had the opportunity to recover and rest."

There will be no cross-country meet for NAU this week, giving the Stallions an opportunity to recover, train and build chemistry.

The team will also step away from the course Thursday for a team builder at Main Event.

And this isn't just about running.

NAU is a university in the community, of the community and for the community. Stallion fans, supporters and members of the Stafford community are invited to come out, join the team and see if you can hang out, compete and share some fun with the Stallions.

Because sometimes the fastest way to build a team is to step away from the stopwatch.

Up Next: Prairie View A&M

The Stallions return to competition on September 24 at the Prairie View A&M University / Clifton Gilliard Cross Country Invitational.

Prairie View A&M University

There is something special about NAU returning to that historic and legendary campus, and the course could provide a terrain advantage for Acosta and Johns, who have shown they can handle that type of surface.

Burioni also brings a different kind of history to the next race. A standout on the soccer pitch, Gino has already shown that he can do great things on the right terrain. Meanwhile, Christopher Spight and Demry will look to take advantage of a course that more closely resembles the terrain they have been using in training.
  

The Stallions aren't looking for the peak in September.

They're building toward it.

One Step at a Time.

SID Coach Jackson
North American University Athletics