When Cross Country Isn't A Race Against Time
 
St. Edward's cross country team made excellent time in its races at the Texas A&M Invitational Meet. MIA RIVERA set a new women's program 5K record, and most of the men's team clocked new personal bests.
 
And for the first time, the team did it all without the longtime trusted companions they've relied on every run: their watches. 
 
"I prefer they run without watches because they're not racing against time, they're racing against themselves and the other people in the race," St. Edward's head coach Chase Rathke explains. "A lot of them get enamored with this thing on their wrist because they use it every day in practice. Sometimes, I want them to put that aside, shut their brains down, and just go out and race."
 
The Hilltoppers use their watches to help pace themselves over a long course and track their times. Without them, the team had to focus on the course markers, opposing runners, and each other to track their bearings. 
 
"It's probably the first time I've raced without my watch on in three or four years," sophomore ARLO GONZALES said after leading the top five Hilltoppers at the meet. "It was different. It forced us to really rely on our teammates. I had to trust AJ [Pena]. During the meet, we thought we weren't doing well, but our times said different." 

For senior DELANEY LONG, who led St. Edward's in the season opener and finished second among Hilltoppers at Texas A&M, the shift was freeing.

"This was my first time racing without a watch on, so it was just me and my mind," Long says. "I was happy to finish strong, just focusing on the race for once."

Rivera's Family Runs Deep
 
Cross country and track run in the blood of siblings Mia and Rodger Rivera. Rodger became a cross country All-American at the University of Texas. Mia now carries the family torch at St. Edward's, where she holds multiple women's cross country and track records.

Last Saturday, after Mia set a new program mark at the Texas A&M Invitational, another member of the Rivera family showed off her endurance. Their mother, Veronica Ahrendes, joined her daughter for a post-meet cool down.

"When she said we were going to do a cool down, I thought she meant walking. But it was a 10-minute run," Ahrendes said with a laugh. "It was great. I felt really proud running with her."

Mia wasn't surprised by her mom's ability to keep pace.

"I know she works hard every day," Rivera said. "Whether it's 100 degrees, raining, or through a dust storm, she's out there giving it her best. All summer, we were always both up at 5 a.m.—me stretching, getting ready to run 8–10 miles, her getting ready for work—listening to music. We were always together. We share a great bond, so it was special to have her with me for this meet."

Ahrendes credits the miles she puts in on the job as a UPS driver, plus the sprinting across courses to catch Mia at different checkpoints, for her fitness.

"It's difficult to get away from work, but my supervisors help me," Ahrendes said. "They know how important it is for me to be here to support her."

After Long Recovery, Saunders Cherishes First Race Back With Teammates
 
Senior JENNA SAUNDERS made her long-awaited return at Saturday's Texas A&M Invitational, racing for the first time in six months after an injury kept her out of last spring's outdoor track and field season. The performance served as a reminder of what she missed most: the team.

"I was out for so long, and it was not a fun time," Saunders said. "It's great to be back with the team, running alongside them every day. We did well for one of our first races of the season."

Saunders clocked 19:23.3 in her comeback, less than 20 seconds off her personal-best set at the same meet a year ago. More importantly, she was back in the mix with her teammates.

"All I wanted was to have a good race for this first one—just run as fast as I could at a pace I could maintain," Saunders said. "I was determined to stay with Delaney and Sammy [Salazar] for most of the race, but I still have some work to do."

She noted her next focus will be sharpening the final mile before the team heads to the Chile Pepper Festival on October 4. But after the long road just to reach the starting line again, Saunders is already on pace to close her collegiate career the way she wants—side by side with her team.