Saturday, September 13
Bryan-College Station
8:00 AM
Texas A&M
vs
Texas A&M Invitational
Aggies Sweep Team Titles at Texas A&M Invitational
Sep 13, 2025 | Cross Country
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M cross country team swept the team titles at the 12th annual Texas A&M Invitational, while Cooper Cawthra took the men's 8k individual crown Saturday morning at the Watts Cross Country Course.
The Maroon & White kept their undefeated start to the 2025 campaign alive, as they claimed both team titles at the Texas A&M Invitational behind a crowd of 6,938 at the Watts Cross Country Course. Cawthra headlined the individual performances, securing the win in the men's event, while Sophia Bendet was the top-finishing Aggie in the women's race placing third.
"I Thought both teams ran well," distance coach Wendel McRaven said. "We talked Beforehand about getting in good position but staying patient. They executed that perfectly."
The Aggie men opened the day on the front foot, dominating from start to finish sweeping both the team and individual titles. The group led throughout the race, holding the top spot at all three checkpoints. Cawthra paced the group with a time of 23:29.9 to claim first place, he was followed by Carter Gordy in third (23:46.3), Diego Heredia in seventh (23:57.5), Jack Johnston in eighth (23:57.5) and Gavin Chapa in ninth (24:04.6).
"It's great having Cooper [Cawthra] back in the mix," McRaven continued. "He brings maturity and leadership to the group. Overall, the men ran really well, and we still haven't raced our full squad."
The Texas A&M women closed the day for the Maroon & White with a first-place team finish. Bendet led the women with a third-place result after crossing the line in 17:03.7, she was followed by Joyce Kemboi in fifth (17:08.5), Alexandra Fox in sixth (17:19.2), Megan Roberts in eighth (17:25.0) and San Juanita Leal in eleventh with a time of 17:41.3.
"On the women's side we have a lot of interchangeable parts at the front," McRaven added. "Today was Sophia's [Bendet] turn. She ran really well, Like a veteran. Her time was 20 seconds faster than she ran on this course last year in high school. Joyce [Kemboi] is getting fitter each week and was right there. Lots of youngsters in the mix."
TEAM RESULTS
The Texas A&M men secured the team title with 25 points, followed by UC San Diego in second (98), TCU in third (101), Houston in fourth (120), UT-Arlington in fifth (129), Dallas Baptist in sixth (160), UT-Tyler in seventh (177), North Texas in eighth (200), Ouachita Baptist in ninth (262), Sam Houston in tenth (268), St. Edward's in eleventh (282), Blinn College in twelfth (314), Prairie View in thirteenth (406).
The Aggies won the women's event with 33 points followed by SMU in second (72), UC San Diego in third (73) Houston in fourth (115), UT-Arlington in fifth (116), TCU in sixth (136), Dallas Baptist in seventh (252), UT-Tyler in eight (252), Ouachita Baptist in ninth (261), St. Edwards in tenth (267), Sam Houston in eleventh (277), Our Lady of the Lake in twelfth (359), Blinn College in thirteenth (405) and Prairie View in fourteenth (415).
SEASON RECORD
Men's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 12-0
Women's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 13-0
To learn more about Texas A&M track & field/cross country, log on to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
The Maroon & White kept their undefeated start to the 2025 campaign alive, as they claimed both team titles at the Texas A&M Invitational behind a crowd of 6,938 at the Watts Cross Country Course. Cawthra headlined the individual performances, securing the win in the men's event, while Sophia Bendet was the top-finishing Aggie in the women's race placing third.
"I Thought both teams ran well," distance coach Wendel McRaven said. "We talked Beforehand about getting in good position but staying patient. They executed that perfectly."
The Aggie men opened the day on the front foot, dominating from start to finish sweeping both the team and individual titles. The group led throughout the race, holding the top spot at all three checkpoints. Cawthra paced the group with a time of 23:29.9 to claim first place, he was followed by Carter Gordy in third (23:46.3), Diego Heredia in seventh (23:57.5), Jack Johnston in eighth (23:57.5) and Gavin Chapa in ninth (24:04.6).
"It's great having Cooper [Cawthra] back in the mix," McRaven continued. "He brings maturity and leadership to the group. Overall, the men ran really well, and we still haven't raced our full squad."
The Texas A&M women closed the day for the Maroon & White with a first-place team finish. Bendet led the women with a third-place result after crossing the line in 17:03.7, she was followed by Joyce Kemboi in fifth (17:08.5), Alexandra Fox in sixth (17:19.2), Megan Roberts in eighth (17:25.0) and San Juanita Leal in eleventh with a time of 17:41.3.
"On the women's side we have a lot of interchangeable parts at the front," McRaven added. "Today was Sophia's [Bendet] turn. She ran really well, Like a veteran. Her time was 20 seconds faster than she ran on this course last year in high school. Joyce [Kemboi] is getting fitter each week and was right there. Lots of youngsters in the mix."
TEAM RESULTS
The Texas A&M men secured the team title with 25 points, followed by UC San Diego in second (98), TCU in third (101), Houston in fourth (120), UT-Arlington in fifth (129), Dallas Baptist in sixth (160), UT-Tyler in seventh (177), North Texas in eighth (200), Ouachita Baptist in ninth (262), Sam Houston in tenth (268), St. Edward's in eleventh (282), Blinn College in twelfth (314), Prairie View in thirteenth (406).
The Aggies won the women's event with 33 points followed by SMU in second (72), UC San Diego in third (73) Houston in fourth (115), UT-Arlington in fifth (116), TCU in sixth (136), Dallas Baptist in seventh (252), UT-Tyler in eight (252), Ouachita Baptist in ninth (261), St. Edwards in tenth (267), Sam Houston in eleventh (277), Our Lady of the Lake in twelfth (359), Blinn College in thirteenth (405) and Prairie View in fourteenth (415).
SEASON RECORD
Men's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 12-0
Women's
John McKenzie Invitational – 1st – 3-0
Texas A&M Invitational – 1st – 13-0
To learn more about Texas A&M track & field/cross country, log on to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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