Tag: Deandra Ibarra

OLLU recognizes achievements of cross-country teams

OLLU recognized the achievements of the men’s and women’s cross-country teams from the 2022-2023 season during the virtual 11th Annual Big Blue Athletics Banquet.

The season was highlighted by the women capturing the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Championship on Nov. 4. It was the team’s eighth championship. Nadia Sifuentes was the Individual Champion, while Deandra Ibarra won the Freshman of the Year Award for marking the best finish by a freshman.

The women went on to compete at the 2022 NAIA Cross-Country Championships on Nov. 18 in Tallahassee, Fla.

The women also excelled in academics after capturing the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

Both the men and women earned NAIA Scholar-Team recognition at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 academic year. The women finished with a 3.005 GPA, while the men marked a 3.027 GPA.

Head Coach Patrick Torres won RRAC Coach of the Year honors. Selected as the teams’ Top Saint award winners were Nadia Sifuentes and Jose Zarate.

OLLU women finish second in RRAC Track and Field Championship

The women’s track and field team captured the runner-up trophy at the 2023 Red River Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships. Winning the meet this year was Xavier University of Louisiana with 309 points, while OLLU earned 205. 

OLLU had several champions including Robbie Sue Espericueta, who won the 10000m, Lindsey Broussard captured the 5000m, Deandra Ibarra secured the 1500m and Victoria Sweeney came up with the win in the javelin throw.

After the event that spanned two days, the university honored seniors Broussard, Savannah Cassiano, Espericueta, Makhayla Parker and Alondra Toledo. Parker was also recognized as her team’s Champions of Character representative.

Women’s cross-country wins Concordia Classic, Deandra Ibarra captures individual medal

The Saints women’s cross-country team won its first meet since 2019 at the Concordia Classic sponsored by Concordia University Texas on Sept. 23. The women’s previous wins came in 2014 at the McMurry Bill Libby Invitational out of five teams, the Saints Collegiate Invite out of seven teams and the OLLU Collegiate Invite out of three teams.

Head Coach Patrick Torres commented, “Deandra Ibarra got her first college win, and I think it will be the first of many. Our team rallied around some huge efforts by her and Viridiana Zuniga stepping up into our fifth role. We took care of business and won convincingly. I’m so excited about the talent of this team and just how they rally to run for each other.”

Deandra Ibarra won the individual medalist award with a time of 21:24.6 in the 5.5k. Nadia Sifuentes placed third with a time of 22:28.9 followed by Leilani Leza at 22:46.4 and Mia Curiel at 22:56.6. In seventh place was Viridiana Zuniga with a time of 23:07.9, and Robbie Sue Espericueta finished in 18th place with a time of 24:07.7.

Other finishers include Kennedy Villalpando at 24:12.1, Sierra Ramirez at 24:27.3, Liliana Hernandez at 24:44.9.

What’s next
The Saints will prepare for the UIW Invitational at the University of the Incarnate Word on Oct. 1.