Aug. 31, 2012
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State Cross Country team started off its 2012 campaign in dominant fashion. The Aztecs had six runners finish in the top ten at the UC San Diego Opener on Friday. SDSU tallied 26 points in the 2.5-mile race to claim the victory over UC San Diego, CSU Los Angeles, Point Loma Nazarene and CSU San Bernardino.
Freshman Laura Vazquez had an impressive collegiate debut as she was San Diego State's top finisher, coming in second place with a time of 15:08.4. The race for first was tight with only 1.2 seconds separating first and second place. The only runner to finish ahead of Vazquez was Sabrina Lopez of CSU Los Angeles who finished with a time of 15:07.6.
"It was a very exciting day for myself and the team," said first-year assistant coach Michael Dunne. "Although it was a small meet we had our old rivals there. It was important for us to get off to a good start this year. We had two goals, to break the course record and to win the all-around team title. Laura Vazquez beat the individual course record by four seconds. Our confidence is high and we are really looking forward to our next home meet at the Aztec Invitational."
Josefine Koskinen, Chelsea Kruthers and Marianne Hogan finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Koskinen crossed the finish line with a time of 15:24.8, Kruthers posted a time of 15:29.6 and Hogan came in just behind at 15:30.8.
Rounding out the top ten finishers were Jessica McCall in ninth place (15:50.1) and Rachel Roesgen who clocked in at 15:57.4 for 10th place.
Also representing the Aztecs in the race were Megan Geyer (16:08), Hannah Sawatzki (16:25), Lily Mayko (16:35.7), Katy Smith (16:48.1), Amanda Okun (17:07.9), Amy Reaser (17:11.4), Melissa Wendorf (17:51.9), Megan Hughes (18:00.3) and Kimmy Kaloroumakis (18:33.8).
San Diego State is back in action on Sept. 8, when it heads to Irvine, Calif. to take part in the UC Irvine Invitational.
UC San Diego Opener
Individual Results (of 78 runners):
1. Sabrina Lopez (CSU L.A.) - 15:07.6
2. Laura Vazquez (SDSU) - 15:08.4
3. Chia Chang (UC San Diego) - 15:20.8
4. Josefine Koskinen (SDSU) - 15:24.8
5. Chelsea Kruthers (SDSU) - 15:29.6
6. Marianne Hogan (SDSU) - 15:30.8
7. Marie Diaz (UC San Diego) - 15:32.9
8. Carolina Guzman (UC San Diego) - 15:45.7
9. Jessica McCall (SDSU) - 15:50.1
10. Rachel Roesgen (SDSU) - 15:57.4
14. Megan Geyer (SDSU) - 16:08
20. Hannah Sawatzki (SDSU) - 16:25
34. Lily Mayko (SDSU) - 16:35.7
29. Katy Smith (SDSU) - 16:48.1
39. Amanda Okun (SDSU) - 17:07.9
42. Amy Reaser (SDSU) - 17:11.4
55. Melissa Wendorf (SDSU) - 17:51.9
57. Megan Hughes (SDSU) - 18:00.3
62. Kimmy Kaloroumakis (SDSU) - 18:33.8