Oct. 30, 2004
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's cross country squad came in seventh overall (192 points) Saturday morning at the 2004 Mountain West Conference championships at Morley Field. The Aztecs slipped one spot from their sixth-place performance a year ago in the 6K race, while 12th-ranked Brigham Young claimed its sixth straight title in as many chances (24 points), easily edging out second place No. 24 Colorado State (59 points).
SDSU junior Christal Cuadra (Honolulu, Hawaii) was the team's top runner, coming in 14th overall with a time of 23:03, to earn second team all-conference honors. She becomes just the second Aztec to place in the top 14 in the meet's six-year history, while she improved 28 spots from her previous best finish at the MWC championships (42nd) in 2003. Cuadra's time is team's fastest of the season at the 6K distance by 19 seconds.
Cuadra was followed by sophomores Christian Fairing (Irvine, Calif.) and Celeste Tyson (Austin, Texas), who came in 45th and 46th, respectively, both in 25:22. Sophomore Sara Cates (Carlsbad, Calif.) was just three spots behind the duo in 49th (25:36) place. Sophomore Ali Baker (54th - 26:02), freshman Brookie Detterman (55th - 26:18), junior Jamillah Titus (63rd - 27:40) and senior Emily Joller (64th - 28:13) rounded out the Aztec contingent.
BYU's Laura Turner (21:23) won the individual title by 26 seconds over teammate Rena Chesser (21:49). Cougar Heidi Magill was third (22:01), followed by New Mexico's Jacquelyne Gallegos (22:16).
In the men's 8K race an hour later, the 10th-ranked BYU men avenged their only loss at the conference meet, coming in first with 39 points. Reigning champion and 12th-ranked Air Force, which broke the Cougars' string of four-straight MWC titles in 2003, placed second with 57 points.
No. 23 New Mexico had the top two individual finishers on the men's side in Shadrack Biwott (24:44) and Matt Gonzales (24:45).
This was the first time in the six-year history of the league that the Mountain West Conference Cross Country meet has been held in San Diego. A year ago, wildfires and the ensuing poor air quality in the San Diego area force the meet to be moved to Albuquerque, N.M.
The SDSU women's cross country team takes two weeks off to rest for the NCAA West Regional race, scheduled for Nov. 13, in Fresno, Calif.
2004 Mountain West Conference Championships
San Diego, Calif. - Morley Field - 6K
Team Results 1. No. 12 Brigham Young 24 pts. 2. No. 24 Colorado State 59 pts. 3. Wyoming 97 pts. 4. Utah 118 pts. 5. Air Force 121 pts. 6. New Mexico 163 pts. 7. SDSU 192 pts. 8. UNLV 224 pts.
Women's Individual Results (SDSU only) 14. Christal Cuadra 23:03 45. Christian Fairing 25:22 46. Celeste Tyson 25:22 49. Sara Cates 25:36 54. Ali Baker 26:02 55. Brookie Detterman 26:18 63. Jamillah Titus 27:40 64. Emily Joller 28:13
SDSU At the Mountain West Conference Cross Country Meet Year Team Finish Top Aztec Finisher (Time) 2004 7th (192 pts.) 14. Christal Cuadra (23:03.00)# 2003 6th (143 pts.) 4. Marie Nilsson (21:53.00)* 2002 7th (176 pts.) 22. Jennifer Stakiw (22:36.80) 2001 7th (177 pts.) 32. Alicia Stewart (23:24.00) 2000 5th (166 pts.) 31. Kylie Edwards (23:10.20) 1999 5th (146 pts.) 16. Sophia Hawker (18:36.10)^ ^ = 5K race (others 6K) * = First Team All-MWC # = Second Team All-MWC