Western Texas Cross Country Makes History in Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge, IA – The Western Texas College Cross Country teams wrapped up their 2025 season at the NJCAA National Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa, competing in true cross country weather as snow and cold greeted runners at the starting line. The men's team capped off an impressive season by finishing 16th out of 30 teams, the best finish in program history.Cierra Garcia, the lone representative for the women's team, placed 72nd out of 171 runners in her national debut.

Before the race began, a light dusting of snow covered the course, and temperatures hovered around 30 degrees. Despite the challenging conditions, the Westerners were ready to compete. The coaching staff shared their strategy heading into the meet: "The game plan was to stay as warm as possible leading up to race time. The course was covered in snow and quite wet from the melted patches. In conditions like that, all you can do is have a tough mindset. Most race strategies go out the window—you compete and be tougher than the runners next to you."

For many Westerners, this marked their first appearance on the national stage. The coaches focused on keeping their athletes calm and confident in the biggest meet of the year.

"We let them relax and have fun. We had occasional individual conversations, but didn't dive too deeply into things. The team understood the level of competition—they just needed to stay relaxed and grounded."

On the men's side, Hayden Scott led the way with an impressive 35th-place finish, clocking a time of 26:35. He was followed by John Alcantar (74th, 27:33), Gage Harris (27:39), Jason Dodd, Fabian Ruiz, Isaiah Garcia, and Kyle Trantham, each contributing to the team's steady performance in the harsh conditions.

Even with the freezing temperatures, the Westerners refused to let the weather define their race.

"The cold didn't change much of what we wanted to do—the snow forced us to make adjustments," the staff said. "We kept things simple and told them to race hard and be proud of their effort."

Preparation was key, and the coaching staff ensured the team was well-prepared for anything.

"We made sure the team had what they needed to be successful. We packed extra headwear, running gloves, rain suits, and hand warmers so they'd be comfortable and confident before the race."

After the final race of the season, the coaching staff reflected on how far the team had come and the growth it had shown throughout the year.

"We're proud of how far this group has come. The men were ranked 16th and finished 16th in very tough conditions—it's hard to ask for more. Cierra and the men's team got to experience what cross country is really like up north. This was their toughest race of the year, and they'll grow from it."

When asked to describe the Westerners in one word, the answer came easily: "TEAM."

"All year, our top seven runners have changed meet to meet, including at Nationals. We have the depth for athletes to step up each race, depending on how they feel that day. Every athlete has played their part and helped us get to this point. Our goal from the start was to be one of the best teams in the country, and that focus will remain as we move into next year."