Sept. 9, 2003
SAN DIEGO -
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Cross Country Plays Host To 59th Annual Aztec Invitational Saturday
* In its first of three home meets, the San Diego State women's cross country team plays host to the 59th Annual Aztec Invitational Saturday at Balboa Park.
The women's open division kicks off the day at 8:00 a.m. and is followed by the women's invitational at 8:45 a.m. The men's open and invitational races begin at 9:15 and 10 a.m., respectively.
The women will run a 5K and the men are set for an 8K. The race begins and ends to the north and south of Laurel Street.
Aztec Invitational History
* History Tid-Bits - The meet first began with a men's race on December 18, 1943 ... a women's division was introduced 34 years later in 1977 ... for the first time in its history, the Aztec Invitational was canceled in 2001 due to the events of September 11, and was not rescheduled ... former San Diego prep and UCLA standout Mebrahtom Keflezighi owns the meet record in the 8K of 24:37 (1995), while Arizona's Joan Hansen ran the fastest women's race in 16:47 (1981).
* A year ago, the Aztecs finished third out of seven teams in the invitational race, placing ahead of two Pac-10 teams, USC and No. 25 Arizona.
Then senior Jennifer Stakiw led the squad with a time of 18:52, finishing 13th out of 61 runners. Following Stakiw were freshmen standouts Christal Cuadra (19:08) and Jamillah Titus (19:11), who placed 17th and 18th, respectively.
Ninth-ranked Arkansas and No. 13 Northern Arizona finished in the first and second spots. NAU's Ida Nilsson won the individual title with a time of 17:44, while the University of San Diego took the women's open title.
*2002 Aztec Invite Results (Invitational Division)
Final Team Results (Top 6): 1. Arkansas, 22; 2. Northern Arizona, 36; 3. SDSU, 92; 4. USC, 122; 5. Concordia, 140; 6. Arizona, 161.
Aztec Individual Results (2003 Returnees only): 17. Christal Cuadra (19:08); 18. Jamillah Titus (19:11); 39. Kylie Edwards (20:25); 42. Tina Fodor (20:31); 55. Brianne Bricker (21:23).
Fullerton Wrap-Up
* The San Diego State women's cross country squad opened its 2003 season with a sixth-place finish at the Fullerton Opener at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, Calif. The Aztecs tallied 164 points at the 14-team meet, which was won by host Cal State Fullerton (90 pts.).
SDSU was led individually by sophomore Crystal Cuadra, who logged the best-ever finish and 5K time of her career, coming in fourth overall in 18:39.80. Cuadra was joined in the top 20 by junior Allison Brown, who placed 20th with a time of 19:18.30, in her first cross country meet since 2001.
SDSU's sixth-place finish matched its performance at the same meet a year ago, when it also finished sixth with 192 points in the 17-team field.
*2003 Fullerton Opener Results
Final Team Results (Top 6): 1. CS Fullerton, 90; 2. A Snails Pace, 117; 3. USC, 118; 4. Concordia, 146; 5. Biola, 161; 6. SDSU, 164.
Aztec Individual Results: 4. Crystal Cuadra (18:39.80); 20. Allison Brown (19:18.30); Tina Fodor (43rd - 19:54.50); Christian Fairing (44th - 19:55.00); Alison Baker (60th - 20:28.80); Emily Wynne (71st - 20:43.70); Jackie Duncan (76th - 20:47.60); Jamillah Titus (86th - 21:04.40); Julie Amster (88th - 21:09.60); Angie Fitzpatrick (92nd - 21:21.40); Marilyn Smith (117th - 22:22.90); Katie Parry (122nd - 22:50.00).