ABILENE, Texas (September 4, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's cross country team opened the 2026 season at the Abilene Christian University Naimadu Classic on Friday evening at the ACU Cross Country Course.

As a team, UTPB finished third place with 91 points in the women's 4K race. Abilene Christian (DI) finished in first place with 17 points and runners in each of the top-four spots while Western Texas College (NJCAA) was second with 40 points and four runners in the top-11. In fourth place was Cisco College (NJCAA) with 99 points, eight points behind the Falcons.

Individually, UTPB put three runners into the top-25.

Leading the way for the Falcons was sophomore Celine Maldonado with a time of 17:46.1, good for 14th place in the field of 39 runners.

Each of the four remaining runners made their debut for Falcon cross country.

Sophomore Kylie Valenzuela (18:56.7) finished in 21st place and freshman Brianna Valenzuela (19:42.3) was in 25th place.

Next was sophomore Abbygail Campos (21:43.4) in 32nd and senior Angelina Arriaga (24:19.5) in 38th.

UTPB last competed in the Naimadu Classic back in 2022. The Naimadu Classic is named for ACU legend Nicodemus Naimadu, who in his years at ACU was only the second person to win four consecutive national cross country titles in NCAA history.

UT Permian Basin will compete next at the Texas Tech Open on the morning from Friday, September 18, at the LCU Cross Country Course in Lubbock, Texas. The Falcons had previously opened up their last two seasons competing at the Texas Tech Open.