Sept. 14, 2004
SAN DIEGO -
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Cross Country to Host 60th 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.
16 teams are expected to compete in the women's invitational meet, including No. 15 Northern Arizona and 20th-ranked Duke. In the men's invitational meet, 14 teams are slated to compete, including two 2003 NCAA championship participants, Northern Arizona, who finished third, and Arizona, who took 23rd.
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 sixth out of 14 teams in the invitational race.
*Then senior Marie Nilsson led the squad with a time of 18:23, finishing fourth out of 125 runners. Following Nilsson was sophomore standout Christal Cuadra (19:07), who placed 16th.
*Northern Arizona and UCLA finished in the first and second spots. NAU's Johanna Nilsson won the individual title with a time of 17:58, while Concordia College took the women's open title.
2003 Aztec Invite Results (Invitational Division)
Final Team Results (Top 6): 1. Northern Arizona, 55; 2. UCLA, 81; 3. Southern Utah, 106; 4. UC Irvine, 131; 5. USC, 148; 6. SDSU, 156.
Aztec Individual Results (2004 returnees only): 16. Christal Cuadra (19:07); 37. Celeste Tyson (19:46); 58. Christian Fairing (20:13); 93. Jamillah Titus (21:35).
Last Week At the Fresno Invitational
*The San Diego State cross country team finished eighth out of 10 teams at the Fresno State Invitational in Fresno, Calif on Saturday morning. The Aztecs ended up with 237 points at a meet won by UC Santa Barbara (20 points).
"I am pleased with how the team ran," said assistant coach Jennifer Nanista. "Our pack was better and we stepped it up from last week."
Sophomore Celeste Tyson (Austin, Texas) was the first SDSU runner to cross the finish line, coming in 51st of 109 runners with a 5K time of 19:31, 15 seconds faster than her Aztec career best time. Behind her was sophomore Ali Baker (Pine Valley, Calif.) who placed 53rd with a personal best time of 19:34.
Juniors Jackie Duncan (Syracuse, N.Y.) (63rd place, 19:42), Jamillah Titus (American Canyon, Calif.) (67th, 19:52) and freshman Brookie Dettermann (Santa Cruz, Calif.) (68th, 19:54) also finished in the top-70 for SDSU.
The Aztecs return home for the first of their three home meets this season, the 60th Annual Aztec Invitational at Balboa Park at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Fresno Results
Final Team Results: 1. UC Santa Barbara, 20; 2. Chico State, 52; 3. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 77; 4. San Jose State, 99; 5. UC Berkeley, 144; 6. Santa Clara, 176; 7. Fresno State, 203; 8. San Diego State, 237; 9. Cal State Bakersfield, 245; 10. Cal State Sacramento, 300.
Final Aztec Individual Results (5K): 51. Celeste Tyson (19:31); 53. Ali Baker (19:34); 63. Jackie Duncan (19:42); 67. Jamillah Titus (19:52); 68. Brookie Dettermann (19:54); 84. Sara Cates (20:44); 94. Kristen Scanlon (21:35); 95. Emily Joller (21:42).