Vela's Performance List (TFRRS)
2025-26 • Sophomore
Cross Country
• Competed in all six meets and was the SLU leader in all but one race.
• Led the Billikens at the A-10 Championship with a 27th-place finish.
• Posted an 8K PR of 24:24 at the Gans Creek Classic.
• Turned in top-10 finishes at the Mizzou Opener (9th) and Bradley Intercollegiate (5th).
Indoor Track and Field
• Ran in four meets for the Bills.
• Scored at the A-10 Championships in the 3,000 meters, placing sixth overall.
• Had a 3,000-meter PR of 8:17.26 at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational.
Outdoor Track and Field
• Competed in three meets for SLU.
• Registered a PR in the 10,000 meters (29:40.70) at the WashU Distance Carnival.
• Posted a 5,000-meter PR of 14:21.10 at the Duke Invitational.
• Just missed scoring in the 5,000 and 10,000 at the A-10 Championships, placing 10th and ninth in the events, respectively.
2024-25 • Freshman
Cross Country
• Competed in all six meets and finished among SLU's top five in all six.
• Named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team.
• A-10 Rookie of the Week (Sept. 5).
• Billikens' lead runner at the A-10 Championships, finishing 21st overall with an 8K PR of 24:40.7.
• Won the Billiken Invitational.
• Billikens' second-place finisher at the Mizzou Opener, Gans Creek Classic and NCAA Regional.
Indoor Track and Field
• Ran in five meets for the Bills.
• At the A-10 Championships, competed in the 3,000 meters (21st) and 5,000 meters (12th).
• Had a top 3,000-meter time of 8:28.20 at the Indiana Early Bird.
• Finished the 5,000 meters in a PR of 14:31.11 at the Meyo Invitational.
• Placed second in the 3,000 meters at the Show-Me Showdown.
Outdoor Track and Field
• Silver medalist and A-10 runner-up in the 10,000 meters at the A-10 Championships.
• Also scored for the Bills in the 5,000 meters at the A-10s with an eighth-place finish.
• Turned in a 10,000-meter PR of 29:50.26 at the WashU Distance Carnival.
Previous
• Graduate of Cypress Springs High School.
• Was a cross country state finalist.
• Qualified for the state cross country meet in three seasons and was district champion in 2022.
• Helped the Panthers to the regional meet as a senior for the first time in 20 years.
• Helped the track squad to a third-place district finish his senior season.
• Top times included 15:20 over 5K (XC), 9:02 for 3,200 meters, 4:17 for 1,600 meters and 1:58 for 800 meters.
• Graduated summa cum laude and was an Academic All-District selection all four years of high school.
• Also played baseball and basketball.
