OLLU cross-country and track and field teams have announced the recruiting class of 2021. The cross-country team will begin competing in early fall through November, with the season culminating at the Annual Men’s and Women’s Country National Championships on Nov. 19 in Vancouver, Wash. The track and field teams will compete in spring 2022, and their season will conclude at the Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships May 25-27 at Gulf Shores, Ala. The Indoor Track and Field National Championships take place March 3-5 in Brookings, S.D.
The cross-country teams ran in the spring this past year due to COVID-19 concerns, but they will return to their normal season in the fall. The track and field teams will commence their normal season in the spring of 2022.
New additions to the team are listed below:
Men’s Distance
Joseph Gonzales (Middle Distance/Distance) from Laredo, Texas / Alexander High School
- Regional Qualifier in 800m, Regional Qualifier in Cross Country
JC Hernandez (Middle Distance/Distance) Lytle, Texas / Lytle High School
- 15th place at UIL State at Cross Country Championships 4A, 5th place at UIL State Track Championships in 1600m
Hendrick Ramirez (Middle Distance/Distance) from San Antonio / Marshall High School
- Regional Qualifier in Cross Country
Robert Rios (Middle Distance/Distance) from San Antonio / Brackenridge High School
- Area Qualifier in Track and Field, Regional Qualifier in Cross Country
Angel Rodriguez (Middle Distance/Distance) from Hondo, Texas / Hondo High School
- Regional Champion in 1600m and 3200m, 7th place at UIL State Championships 4A in 3200m, 8th place at State 1600m, UIL Region 4 Cross Country Champion, 15th place at UIL State Cross Country Championships 4A
Julio Sanchez (Middle Distance/Distance) from San Antonio / Brackenridge High School
- Regional Qualifier in 3200m, Regional Qualifier in Cross Country
Men’s Sprints/Jumps
Anthony Alvarado (400/800m) from San Antonio / Warren High School
- Regional Qualifier in 4x400mR
Mark Canales (400m) from San Antonio / Texas Lutheran University
Diogo Hernandez (400m) from San Antonio / Cornerstone High School
- TCAF State Runner Up in 400m
Marvin Levingston (100m/200m) from San Antonio / Brackenridge High School
- Regional Qualifier in 4x100mR, Area Qualifier in 200m
Dejon Lewis (Long Jump/Triple Jump) from Del Valle, Texas / Del Valle High School
- Regional Qualifier in Long Jump and Triple Jump, 6A UIL State Qualifier in Triple Jump
Nehemiah Littleton (Long Jump/Triple Jump) from San Antonio Harlan High School
- Regional Qualifier in Long Jump, Regional Qualifier in Triple Jump
Matthew Martinez (100m/200m) from Corpus Christi, Texas / Flour Bluff High School
Matt Sanchez (400m/Long Jump) from Lyford, Texas / Lyford High School
- Regional Qualifier in Long Jump
Jordan Shaw (400m) from Semmes, Ala. / Mary G. Montgomery High School
- Sectional Qualifier in 400m
Jaylon Washington (100m/200m) from San Antonio / Southside High School
Jaedin Williams (110mH/Long jump) from San Antonio / Taft High School
- Regional Qualifier in 110mH
Dylan Wilmot (Pole Vault) from Cibolo, Texas / Steele High School
Head Coach Patrick Torres commented about the men’s cross-country team by saying, “We are adding much-needed depth to our men’s cross-country team. Last year’s squad was an injury or two away from not having the minimum number of runners to compete for a team score. This year not only did we add depth, but we added a group of runners who all have post-season experience from the regional level to those who finished within the top in the state. I’m very excited to watch this group defend their cross country title, track title and earn themselves their spots at nationals in both sports, respectively.
Regarding the men’s track team, Torres said, “The 2021-2022 recruiting class on the men’s track side is really special. We have multiple state qualifiers and athletes who I think will be competing at the national meet within their first two seasons. I’m confident that the group we brought in will help in our conference title defense this coming year. I’m really proud of the work Coach Brett Charlton and I did to build our first recruiting class and find student-athletes who will elevate the program and build new legacies here at the Lake.”