Mustangs Win Second Straight Meet To Open The Season; Mburu Claims Second Individual Title
Sep 11 | Cross Country
SMU had five finishers in the top eight at the Texas A&M Invitational
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (SMU) - The SMU cross country team won the at the Texas A&M Invitational on Friday, starting the 2026 season with back to back first-place team finishes. Rose Mburu led the way, finishing first overall to claim the individual title for the second event.
The Mustangs dominated with the top three finishers and five of the top eight spots, scoring 21 points to win the 5k. The second-closest was Texas A&M with 81 points, who is ranked second in the South Central Region. In total, SMU had nine runners place inside the top-25 out of 123 runners, as all 10 runners finished within the top half of the field.
"It was an absolute team effort. Our mantra on the day was flow, settle, hunt and they attacked the race with intention," Head Coach A' Havahla Haynes, "Rose, Mary and Carolina making a mid-race connection was an important statement on their fitness. To see Lena and Poppy have controlled races was an important growth moment. Georgia, Elizabeth, Ruby, Paulina and Erika became the glue to the future success of the season."
Mburu paced the team with another first-place finish at 17:01.0. The 2025 All-Region honoree dropped her time by 27.5 seconds from last Friday's meet in Fort Worth.
"I am so proud of the win and for the team," Mburu stated, "hoping for a better season ahead."
Carolina Correia completed the race soon after with a time of 17:10.1, followed by Mary Nyangate at 17:38.1. This is the second time the three finished in the Top-3 this season.
Rounding out the Top-10 were Mustangs Lena Suchowolak, who placed seventh overall with a time of 17:30.6, and Poppy Elton, who finished eighth with a time of 17:34.9.
The Mustangs will be back in action in two weeks at the Cowboy Jamboree on September 26.
TEAM RESULTS
1 SMU - 21
2 Texas A&M - 81
3 Houston - 114
4 Stephen F. Austin 115
5 TCU - 132
6 Louisiana - 149
7 Texas - 166
8 Lamar - 213
9 St. Edward's - 281
10 UT-Tyler - 282
11 Sam Houston - 291
12 UT-Dallas - 317
13 Blinn College - 395
INDIVIDUAL MUSTANG RESULTS
1 Rose Mburu - 17:01.0
2 Carolina Correia - 17:10.1
3 Mary Nyangate - 17:13.8
7 Lena Suchowolak - 17:30.6
8 Poppy Elton - 17:34.9
13 Georgia Bell -17:44.8
14 Elizabeth Smits - 17:48.8
19 Ruby Little - 18:00.9
22 Paulina Kicilinska - 18:08.2
53 Erika Kirk - 18:56.6
The Mustangs dominated with the top three finishers and five of the top eight spots, scoring 21 points to win the 5k. The second-closest was Texas A&M with 81 points, who is ranked second in the South Central Region. In total, SMU had nine runners place inside the top-25 out of 123 runners, as all 10 runners finished within the top half of the field.
"It was an absolute team effort. Our mantra on the day was flow, settle, hunt and they attacked the race with intention," Head Coach A' Havahla Haynes, "Rose, Mary and Carolina making a mid-race connection was an important statement on their fitness. To see Lena and Poppy have controlled races was an important growth moment. Georgia, Elizabeth, Ruby, Paulina and Erika became the glue to the future success of the season."
Mburu paced the team with another first-place finish at 17:01.0. The 2025 All-Region honoree dropped her time by 27.5 seconds from last Friday's meet in Fort Worth.
"I am so proud of the win and for the team," Mburu stated, "hoping for a better season ahead."
Carolina Correia completed the race soon after with a time of 17:10.1, followed by Mary Nyangate at 17:38.1. This is the second time the three finished in the Top-3 this season.
Rounding out the Top-10 were Mustangs Lena Suchowolak, who placed seventh overall with a time of 17:30.6, and Poppy Elton, who finished eighth with a time of 17:34.9.
The Mustangs will be back in action in two weeks at the Cowboy Jamboree on September 26.
TEAM RESULTS
1 SMU - 21
2 Texas A&M - 81
3 Houston - 114
4 Stephen F. Austin 115
5 TCU - 132
6 Louisiana - 149
7 Texas - 166
8 Lamar - 213
9 St. Edward's - 281
10 UT-Tyler - 282
11 Sam Houston - 291
12 UT-Dallas - 317
13 Blinn College - 395
INDIVIDUAL MUSTANG RESULTS
1 Rose Mburu - 17:01.0
2 Carolina Correia - 17:10.1
3 Mary Nyangate - 17:13.8
7 Lena Suchowolak - 17:30.6
8 Poppy Elton - 17:34.9
13 Georgia Bell -17:44.8
14 Elizabeth Smits - 17:48.8
19 Ruby Little - 18:00.9
22 Paulina Kicilinska - 18:08.2
53 Erika Kirk - 18:56.6
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Saturday, September 12
Saturday, September 12
