Estacada, OR- The University of St. Thomas Men's Cross Country team traveled to Estacada, Oregon, to compete in the NCAA Regional Championship, facing off against strong teams from across the region, including SCAC opponents Colorado College, Trinity, and Southwestern, as well as notable programs like Lewis & Clark and UC Santa Cruz.

The Celts finished in 20th place with a team score of 550, showcasing their growth throughout the season. Freshman Johnathan Castro continued to shine by leading the way for the Celts with an impressive performance. Clocking in at 25:59.2, Castro placed 66th overall in a highly competitive field of 100 runners. Behind him, junior Marc Mendoza followed as the second Celt to cross the finish line, securing 106th place with a time of 26:42.0. Mendoza's consistency throughout the season made him a reliable leader for the team.

Freshman Cristian Rios also made his mark, finishing in 118th place with a personal record of 27:11.5, emphasizing the bright future ahead for the program. Fellow first-year runner Mason McFeeters was close behind in 124th, clocking in at 27:15.7, further highlighting the impact of the younger athletes.

Junior Juan Silva and sophomore Diego Moya rounded out the top scorers for the Celts. Silva recorded a time of 28:23.2, while Moya completed the course in 30:29.3.

As the 2024 cross-country season comes to a close, the St. Thomas Celts can look back on a year of growth and resilience. While the competition was fierce, the Celts pushed through challenges, setting personal bests and building a solid foundation for the future. As the season wraps up, the team leaves with a sense of accomplishment and the motivation to come back even stronger next year.