ODESSA, Texas (August 29, 2024) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's cross country team had two student-athletes named to the 2024 Lone Star Conference Runners to Watch list.

Graduate student Alauna Stackhouse was the top UTPB runner in every race she ran in 2023. She was the fastest Falcon at the LSC Championship (6K: 25:18.96 – 61st place), the Texas Tech Open (6K: 26:54.00 – 73rd place), the MSU Mustang Derby (4K: 16:39.60 – 22nd place), and the McMurry Big Country Festival (5K: 22:31.60 – 20th place).

Junior Kayla Cepeda, meanwhile, finished 101st with a 6K time of 28:16.35 at last year's LSC Championship. She was also 34th with a 4K time of 18:37.60 at the Mustang Derby and was the second fastest UTPB runner at the Big Country Festival (5K: 23:19.90 – 30th place) and the DBU Old Glory Gallop (5K: 21:32.80 – 156th place).

In the LSC preseason poll, West Texas A&M was projected to defend its women's cross country title in 2024. The Lady Buffs totaled 444 points with 25 first-place votes to list first in the 2024 preseason poll. After four straight runner-up showings, WT broke through last season to claim its third overall LSC women's cross country championship. DBU, who owns three of the last four LSC titles, tallied four first-place votes and 416 points for the No. 2 spot in the poll. Midwestern State (355 pts.), St. Edward's (322), Oklahoma Christian (318) and Angelo State (283, 1 first-place vote) finished in the No. 3 through No. 6 spots.

Lubbock Christian (247), Cameron (234), Western New Mexico (206) and UT Tyler (199) complete the predicted top 10 teams followed by Texas A&M International (169), Texas A&M-Kingsville (168), Eastern New Mexico (114), UT Permian Basin (84) and LSC newcomer Sul Ross State (41).

The Falcons will kick the season off on Friday, September 13, at the Texas Tech Open.

The LSC Championships are set for Saturday, October 26 hosted by Texas A&M-Kingsville (Kingsville, Texas). The NCAA Division II postseason starts November 9 at the South Central Regional hosted by MSU Denver and closes with the national championship November 23 in Sacramento, California.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FALCONS 2024 SCHEDULE
2024 LSC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll/Players to Watch