Aug. 31, 2004
SAN DIEGO -
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Cross Country Kicks Off 2004 Campaign Saturday at CS Fullerton *The San Diego State women's cross country squad opens its 2004 campaign on Saturday at the Fullerton Opener, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, in Brea, Calif.
The Aztecs are coming off a three-day training camp in Big Bear, Calif., after reporting to campus on Aug. 25.
SDSU returns three of its top seven runners from a year ago. The three returning scorers include junior Christal Cuadra, and sophomores Sara Cates and Christian Fairing.
Cal State Fullerton History *Keeping with the tradition, the San Diego State women's cross country team begins its schedule at Cal State Fullerton. About 10-12 Aztecs are expected to compete on Saturday.
A year ago, SDSU took sixth out of 14 teams with 164 points. Cuadra posted a personal-best time in the 5K race of 18 minutes, 39.80 seconds.
2003 Fullerton Opener Final Team Results (Top 6): 1. CS Fullerton, 90; 2. A Snail's Pace, 117; 3. USC, 118; 4. Concordia, 146; 5. Biola, 161; 6. San Diego State, 164.
Aztec Individual Results: 43. Tina Fodor (19:54.50); 44. Christian Fairing (19:55.00); 60. Alison Baker (20:28.80); 71. Emily Wynne (20:43.70); 76. Jackie Duncan (20:47.60); 86. Jamillah Titus (21:04.40); 88. Julie Amster (21:09.60); 92. Angie Fitzpatrick (21:21.40); 117. Marilyn Smith (22:22.90); 122. Katie Parry (22:50.00).
Home Sweet Home *San Diego State plays host to three meets this season, including the Mountain West Conference championships.
The Aztecs begin at home with the 60th Annual Aztec Invitational on Sept. 18. The next two meets then involve MWC competition as SDSU plays host to the pre-conference championship on Oct. 9, followed by the real MWC meet on Nov. 1.
San Diego State was suppose to play host to last year's MWC championship meet, but the fires and poor air quality in the San Diego area forced the move Albuquerque, N.M..2004 will now be the first time San Diego State has played host to the MWC Championship meet in the league's six-year history.
2003 Season Review *The San Diego State women's cross country squad put together one of its finest seasons in recent memory in 2003 with the help of a talented newcomer and a deep supporting cast.
The Aztecs made improvements at both the Mountain West Conference and NCAA Regional meets, finishing in the top six in seven of its 10 races.
The year was highlighted by the program's first team title in three seasons, as five runners finished in the top 11 at the Long Beach State Invite.
SDSU also placed in the top three at two other meets, the Hawai'i Big Wave Invitational and UCSD's Triton Classic.
In her only season as an Aztec, senior Marie Nilsson, a transfer from Oklahoma State, made her case as one of the best in SDSU program history. Nilsson logged three of the school's top-four 6K times, including a school record of 21:04 at the NCAA regional meet. She also was the team's top finisher in every race she competed in, tallying five, top-seven individual finishes. She ended with a spot on the seven-runner MWC first team, a first in program history, and earned all-region honors with her top-25 finish.
Cuadra was the Aztecs' No. 2 runner for most of the season. She rounded out the year with her fastest 6K time of her career at the NCAA regional meet, completing the race in 22:25.
Senior Kylie Edwards tallied the fifth best 6K effort in school history at the west regional of 22:09 (55th), while true freshman Sara Cates and redshirt freshman Christian Fairing rounded out the top-5.