SUNNYVALE, Calif. – The Celts of the University of St. Thomas turned in one of their strongest performances of the year Saturday as they competed at the Santa Clara University Bronco Invitational.

With 15 teams and more than 200 runners competing in the eight-kilometer men's open event, the Celts took eighth place in a field that included teams from all three NCAA divisions and several junior colleges, as well as many unattached competitors.

Alonzo Corral (FR/Pasadena, Texas) was the first Celt across the finish line, completing the course in a time of 26 minutes, 13.4 seconds. Corral finished 63rd out of 206 runners and earned 19 points for his team.

Oscar Padilla (SO/Houston, Texas) and Lucas Wolf (FR/Katy, Texas) also recorded Top 100 finishes for the Celts. Padilla took 94th place and earned 37 points after completing the race in a time of 26:48.6. Wolf (98th, 40) crossed the finish line in a time of 26:56.0.

Michael Skinner (SO/Houston, Texas) (142nd, 57) and Alexander Guevara (SO/Houston, Texas) (153rd, 60) rounded out UST's team score of 213 points. Skinner crossed the finish line with a time of 28:11.4, while Guevara turned in a time of 28:29.8

Juan Gonzales (SO/Houston, Texas) (28:53, 2, 161nd) and Antonio Mata (SR/Angleton, Texas) (29:58.5, 180th) also competed for the Celts.

Saturday's meet was the final tuneup before the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship meet. The SCAC championship will take place Saturday, Nov. 2, in Widefield, Colo.