Tag: Jose Zarate

OLLU celebrates achievements of Track and Field teams

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

The season was highlighted by the men’s 4x100m relay team finishing in fifth place at the NAIA National Championships and earning NAIA All-American honors. The four team members include Richard Davis, Troy Stinson, Cerrone Thompson and Julian Verastegui. Twelve members of the men’s team made it to the NAIA National Championships in Indiana. 

In addition, the women’s 4x100m relay team also qualified for nationals. They include Alondra Toledo, Kiana Kebbi, Autumn Roberts and Larrisa McHenry. Qualifying for the NAIA Indoor Championships earlier in the spring were Jose Zarate for the 5000m, Tr’Darius Taylor for the 60m and Ian Lee Heung for the Triple Jump.

The season also featured the men winning the Red River Athletic Conference championships and the women finishing in second. Jose Zarate was the men’s high point track athlete of the year.

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.

Saints men win RRAC Track and Field Championship

The men’s track and field team won the 2023 Red River Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships after recording 252 points. Xavier University of Louisiana came in second with 204 points.

OLLU had several RRAC individual champions, including the 4x100m relay team with Tr’Darius Taylor, Jesus Riefkohl Delgado, Rodney Webber and Jalen Bell; Cerrone Thompson in the 400m; Hector Puente in the 10000m; Jose Zarate in the 5000m and 1500m; Taylor in the 100m; and Bell in the 200m.

Zarate, and three others tied for the High Point Track Athlete of the championships.

OLLU placed fifth in its inaugural season in 2015, and the following year, the Saints came in third. In 2017, the Saints were runners-up, and in 2018, the team came in third. In 2019, OLLU finished second, while the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. In 2021, the Saints came in second, and last year, the Saints finished in third place.

Jose Zarate named NAIA Scholar-Athlete

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the 2022 Daktronics NAIA Men’s Cross-Country Scholar-Athletes on Monday. Jose Zarate has been selected from Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU).

The 2022 list features student-athletes who achieved at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at their institution. In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.

Zarate earned a 3.5 as a graduate student-athlete.