Men's and Women's Cross Country
Men's and Women's Track & Field

Cowan Earns UT Tyler’s First Academic All-America Honor
June 13, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Cross country and track & field junior student-athlete R. J. Cowan, of The University of Texas at Tyler, was named an Academic All-American for both sports by the College Sports Information Directors of America and ESPN The Magazine on Monday.

Cowan is the first student-athlete in UT Tyler history to earn Academic All-America honors. More>>>

Cowan Named Academic All-District by CoSIDA
June 6, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind., – The College Sports Information Directors of America and ESPN The Magazine named R. J. Cowan of The University of Texas at Tyler to their 2008 Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field Academic All-District team on Thursday. More>>>

Track Takes 3rd, 5th at ASC Championships
April 26, 2008

ABILENE, Texas --The Inaugural University of Texas at Tyler men’s and women’s track teams took third and fifth places, respectively, in the 2008 American Southwest Conference Track & Field Championships on Saturday at McMurry’s Wilford Moore Stadium in Abilene. More>>>

Cowan, Kellam Named Academic All-Americans, CC Teams Honored
February 27, 2008

The University of Texas at Tyler men’s cross country runners R.J. Cowan and Corey Kellam have been named Academic All-Americans by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the organization announced this week.

The award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically.  To be eligible for the award a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 25 percent of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet. More>>>

Cowan Named ASC Disitinguished Scholar-Athlete
December 7, 2007

RICHARDSON, Texas --- Junior R. J. Cowan (Tyler, Texas) was named as the 2007 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for men’s Cross Country by American Southwest Conference sports information directors on Thursday.  Cowan, a Health and Kinesiology major, was one of six student-athletes to receive the inaugural award. More>>>

Patriots Finish In Top Half at Cross Country Nationals
November 17, 2007

NORTHFIELD, Minn., --- Juniors Ben Donnan (Paris, Texas) and R.J. Cowan (Tyler, Texas) finished in the top half of the 280 runner field at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships hosted by St. Olaf College on Saturday.

Donnan finished the race in 84th place with a time of 25 minutes and 44 seconds, while Cowan finished five seconds behind in 100th place. More>>>

Cowan Named Region's Top Male Athlete
November 16, 2007

R.J. Cowan, a junior men’s cross country runner for The University of Texas at Tyler, has been named the NCAA Division III Regional Men’s Athlete of the Year for the South/Southeast Region by the U.S. Track and Field ad Cross Country Coaches Association.

Cowan, who won the individual title at the regional championship last weekend in Williamsburg, Va., helped lead the Patriots to their third straight American Southwest Conference Championship this season. He also won the Rhodes College Invitational in September. More>>>

Cowan, Donnan Advance to Cross Country Nationals, Patriots Wait for NCAA Selection
November 10, 2007

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – R.J. Cowan was the top finisher at the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regional Championship and The University of Texas at Tyler men’s cross country team finished in third place Saturday at the Eastern State Cross Country Course.

The Patriots’ women placed 19th. The event was the first postseason NCAA competition for any UT Tyler team.

Cowan’s time of 26:02 for the 8K course bested teammate and No. 2 finisher Ben Donnan by just three seconds in the field of 170 runners. Both runners will advance to the NCAA Cross Country Championships as individuals for the Patriots. They also earned first-team All-Region honors. More>>>

Men's Results (PDF) - Women's Results (PDF) - UT Tyler Sports Blog>>

Track & Field Meeting Set for Nov. 13
November 2, 2007

Students interested in learning more about UT Tyler's new track and field program can attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Herrington Patriot Center. Any UT Tyler students interested in participating or serving as volunteer assistant coaches are encouraged to attend.

Men Win Third-Straight ASC CC Title, Women Finish Third
October 27, 2007

The UT Tyler men's cross country team won its third-straight American Southwest Conference championship, winning with a prefect team score Saturday at Abilene State Park.

Junior Ben Donnan finished the 8K course in 25:26 to lead the Patriots and take the top individual honor.

Teammate R.J. Cowan was second at 26:05, the third place spot went to Corey Kellam with a time of 26:28, Chauncey Deller was fourth at 26:40, and Warren Brown finished in fifth place with a time of 26:43. More>>>

Cross Country Set for ASC Championships
October 26, 2007

The University of Texas at Tyler cross country teams will race in the 2007 American Southwest Conference men’s and women’s cross country championships, set for Saturday at Abilene State Park.

The men run an 8K and will begin at 9:45 a.m., while the women use a 6K format and are slated for a 9:00 a.m. start. McMurry University will serve as host.

The UT Tyler men are favored to win their third consecutive ASC championship, but for the first time a win guarantees a trip to the NCAA regional meet Nov. 10 in Virginia. The Patriots come into the conference meet as the top-ranked team in the south/south central region and hold a No. 29 national ranking in NCAA Division III. More>>>

Patriots Top DIII Team at Arkansas' Chile Pepper Festival
October 13, 2007

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The UT Tyler men’s cross country team was the top Division III squad at the University of Arkansas’ 18th Chile Pepper Festival Saturday at Agri Park in Fayetteville, Ark.

Overall, the Patriots placed 15th with 443 points, just behind California-Irvine with 442. Vanderbilt was behind UT Tyler in the 40-team field.

Host Arkansas, ranked ninth in NCAA Division I, won the meet, followed by Abilene Christian, Virginia Tech, and Rend Lake. Texas A&M rounded out the men’s top five. More>>>

Cross Country Earns More Conference, Regional Honors
October 9, 2007

Tuesday brought more honors for the UT Tyler cross country teams, as the American Southwest Conference announced its Runners of the Week and the latest regional polls were released.

Senior Chauncey Deller (Gladewater, TX / Longview HS) took first place at the University of Dallas Meet with an 8K time of 28:02 to earn the ASC nod for male Runner of the Week. Deller, who became the third consecutive runner from UT Tyler to take the weekly ASC honor, also helped the Patriots to their fourth team victory of the season. More>>>

Cross Country Teams Win Dallas Meets
October 6, 2007

IRVING - The University of Texas at Tyler men’s and women’s cross country teams both won their respective races at the University of Dallas Invitational Saturday morning in Irving.

The top finish was the first team win of the season for the UT Tyler women, with Sarah Hankla finishing in second place to lead the Patriots. Hankla, a freshman from Tyler,  ran the 6K in 25:42. More>>>

UT Tyler Runners Ranked No. 30
October 3, 2007

A day after The University of Texas at Tyler men’s cross country team moved up to No. 1 in the South/Southeast region, the Patriots learned today that they have broken into the national poll.

UT Tyler is ranked No. 30 in the nation according to the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll released today. More>>>

Cross Country Moves to No. 1 in Region, Cowan Honored
October 2, 2007

The University of Texas at Tyler men’s cross country team has moved up to No. 1 in the NCAA Division III regional rankings for the South/Southeast Region.

The poll released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association shows UT Tyler ahead of Emory, which held the top spot until this week. More>>>

Big Win for Men’s Cross Country, Cowan Sets Record
September 29, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Texas at Tyler men’s cross country team won the Rhodes College Invitational Saturday in Memphis, Tenn., marking the Patriots third team win of the season.

In knocking-off host Rhodes, ranked No. 2. in the South/Southeast region, the Patriots hope to move up from their current spot at No. 5 when the new rankings come out. More>>>

Donnan Named Runner of the Week Again
September 25, 2007

It is only fitting that after leading his team to the 2007 Texas Division III Championships, UT Tyler's Ben Donnan would be named the American Southwest Conference Runner of the Week. The league office announced the honor today.

This is Donnan's second ASC Runner of the Week nod this season. More>>>

Men's Cross Country Wins Texas DIII Championships, Women Place Fifth
September 22, 2007

ABILENE - The University of Texas at Tyler men's cross country team won the2007 Texas DIII Championships Saturday at Abilene State Park, while the Patriots' women finished fifth.

UT Tyler had the top three runners and didn’t have a runner finish worse than 26th place. Ben Donnan won the race by over 10 seconds with a 26:27.80 in the 8K race. UT Tyler’s R.J. Cowan and Corey Kellam placed second and third respectively. More>>>

Donnan Earns ASC Weekly Honor
September 11, 2007

UT Tyler junior Ben Donnan was named the American Southwest Conference Runner of the Week for men’s cross country, the league office announced today.

Donnan (Paris, TX/Paris HS) ran a 26:40 to finish second individually and lead the Patriots to a first-place finish at the 8K UT Tyler Invitational last Saturday. More>>>

Men Run Away with First, Women Take Third in CC Meet
September 8, 2007

Running at home proved to be the key for UT Tyler, as the men's team won first place and the women finished third at the UT Tyler Cross Country Invitational Saturday.

Competing on their home course, the UT Tyler men's team won four of the top ten individual spots and earned 37 team points to finish ahead of Northwood (51 points) and Dallas Baptist (59 points) in the overall standings. More>>>

Cross Country Men Take Fifth at Baylor, Women Ninth
August 31, 2007

WACO - The University of Texas at Tyler men's cross country team took fifth place at the Baylor Twilight Invitational Friday night, while the Patriots women finished in ninth place to open their season.

Led by a 16th place finish from R.J. Cowan (19:07), UT Tyler finished ahead of TCU, University of Houston, and Dallas Baptist in the 6K meet. Lamar won the event with an average time of 18:42, followed by Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor. More>>>

UT Tyler Adds Track & Field to Athletics Program
August 28, 2007

The University of Texas at Tyler will officially add men’s and women’s track and field to its athletics program beginning this year. The programs will become the 14th and 15th varsity sports at UT Tyler.

The track and field programs are immediately eligible to compete for conference and NCAA championships.

“We are excited to be able to offer current and prospective student-athletes the ability to participate in track and field,” said Dr. Howard Patterson, interim vice president for student affairs and external relations. “All of our sports have established successful records in both academics and athletics and I am confident track and field will continue this tradition." More>>>

Cross Country Looks to Run Through ASC
August 24, 2007

For the past two years, The University of Texas at Tyler men’s cross country team has dominated the American Southwest Conference. This season, as full members of the NCAA, the excitement level is even higher.

“Two years ago, it was enough to win the conference,” UT Tyler cross country coach Bob Hepler said. “That was really exciting. Last year, it was really anti-climactic. We had a good meet against McMurry, and they pushed us, but we got five of the top seven places and then saw McMurry go on to place top five in the region and get close to one of those top two spots that get you to nationals." More>>>