Sept. 20, 2008
KANE'OHE, Hawaii - San Diego State traveled across the Pacific Ocean and turned in a runner-up effort at the Big Wave Invitational on Saturday morning. The meet, which was hosted by the University of Hawai'i, took place on a 4,000-meter course at Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
"The team is definitely gaining confidence," assistant coach Jennifer Nanista said. "They are running well as a pack and challenging themselves and it is certainly evident in their performance."
On this day, SDSU had its top runner finish ahead of its best from 2007 and had its top five finish before the Aztecs' second-best runner from '07. The top five navigated the course in 15 minutes, 35 seconds, while San Diego State's second-fastest athlete completed the 2007 race in 15:43. In addition to the top five, all seven SDSU runners (16:07) crossed the finish line faster than the lineup from last season (16:28).
Junior Rachel Williams led the Aztecs for the second consecutive week after coming in fourth place with a time of 14:47.81. The Mt. Hermon, Calif., native finished the race ahead of San Diego State's top performer from a year ago in Lisa Naucler by 25 seconds. In 2007, the former team captain posted a time of 15:13, while coming in eighth.
Senior Kristin Glen, who competed on the same course last season, set a personal record by completing the race in 15:01.20. The captain finished in ninth place and logged a PR that was 43 seconds faster than her time in '07.
Junior Darien Buc, another Aztec who raced at the Big Wave Invite last year, set a PR for a 4K as well. The Dana Point, Calif., product surpassed her previous personal-best of 15:43 by 29 seconds while coming in 11th with an effort of 15:14.90.
Rounding out the San Diego State top five were a pair of runners who placed in the top 20. Sophomore Sara Beyers came in 19th with a time of 15:30.48, while senior Kelly Oelschlager finished in 20th, logging a time of 15:35.50. The 4K race was the first for both athletes while running for SDSU.
Completing the Aztec contingent was the sophomore duo of Michelle Martinez and Andrea Norton. Martinez was the field's 24th-faster runner at 15:47.40 and Norton was the 32nd-best with a personal-record time of 16:06.74.
SDSU finished the race with 63 points, behind champion UCLA, which accumulated 26 points. Finishing behind the Aztecs were Pepperdine (71), BYU-Hawaii (117), Hawaii Pacific (118), Hawai'i (167), UH-Hilo (172) and Chaminade (250). The Aztecs' performance marked the second straight season in which they came in second place at the meet. Since 2003, SDSU has traveled to Hawaii three times and all three times have produced a top-3 result.
Next week, San Diego State will travel its first team to Palo Alto, Calif., for the Stanford Invitational, while the second team will compete at the UC Riverside Invitational.
Big Wave Invitational
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course - 4K
1. UCLA - 26 points
2. San Diego State - 63
3. Pepperdine - 71
4. BYU- Hawaii - 117
5. Hawaii Pacific - 118
6. Hawai'i - 167
7. Hawaii-Hilo - 172
8. Chaminade - 250
Top 5 and San Diego State Individual Results
1. Katja Goldring (UCLA) - 14:37.50
2. Shannon Murakami (UCLA) - 14:39.89
3. Chelsea Wishard (Pepperdine) - 14:43.18
4. Rachel Williams (SDSU) - 14:47.81
5. Sadee Martinez (UCLA) - 14:51.30
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9. Kristin Glen - 15:01.20
11. Darien Buc - 15:14.90
19. Sara Beyers - 15:30.48
20. Kelly Oelschlager - 15:35.50
24. Michelle Martinez - 15:47.40
32. Andrea Norton - 16:06.74