Rice Invitational Next Task for Cougars
9/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
HOUSTON -- The 2016 Houston Cougar Cross Country teams continue the 2016 season with their first meet in the city of Houston as they head across town to compete in the 41st Annual Justin F. Cooper Rice Invitational.
ABOUT THE RICE INVITATIONAL
Where: Rice University Campus | Houston, Texas
Women's Race: 6:15 p.m. | 4,000 meters
Men's Race: 6:45 p.m. | 6,000 meters
TWICE IS NICE
Senior Brian Barraza is set to make his return to the cross country course at the Rice Invitational. Familiar with the course, Barraza enters the 2016 edition of the Invitational as the defending champion after claiming the crown last season. The El Paso, Texas, native finished last season's 5.5K race in 18:33.72 to win by more than seven seconds and looks to repeat as champion.
BUILDING ON SUCCESS
Both the men's and women's teams saw success at the 2015 Rice Invitational with the men finishing second overall, while the women placed third. Four of the men's point scorers from last season's meet will be back on the course, while the women return all five from the 2015 meet and will have senior Selena Sierra enter the mix.
Sierra missed the 2015 season due to injury but returned at the SLC Lumberjack Preview to open the season with a second-place finish.
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
This marks the seventh straight year that the Cougars will compete in the Rice Invitational. In the previous six, the men and women have each placed among the top-5 teams three times.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
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Players Mentioned
