Cross Country

Cross Country to Play Host to 68th Aztec Invitational

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Sept. 12, 2012

SAN DIEGO -

AZTEC INVITATIONAL FLYER | COMMUNITY RACE | 2012 ALUMNI RACE | 2012 TIMES

After opening the 2012 season with a decisive win, the San Diego State cross country team will play host to the 68th annual Aztec Invitational on Saturday. This year's invitational will include five races, all set to run at the historic Balboa Park.

The day's events will begin with the Women's Open 5K at 8 a.m. PT followed by the Women's Invitational (5K) at 8:30 a.m. The Men's Invitational, which is an 8K, will get underway at 9 a.m., with the Men's Open (8K) to follow at 9:30 a.m. The day will be capped off with the Community 5K which begins at 10 a.m.

Along with the Aztecs, other schools that are set to participate in the invitational are USC (women only), UNLV, San Jose State, Cal State Northridge, Point Loma Nazarene, Biola University, Scottsdale Community College and Estrella Mountain Community College.

Last year, current senior Marianne Hogan claimed the title at the Aztec Invitational with a time of 18 minutes, 21.9 seconds, to defeat 71 collegiate runners and four unattached athletes. Josefine Koskinen (21st, 19:30.6), Megan Hughes (44th, 20:36.3), Melissa Wendorf (53rd, 21:07.7) and Monique Martinez (60th, 21:47.6) will all look to improve their time and placing from last year's invitational. SDSU will look to better from last year's fifth-place finish.

After placing in the top 10 in their first collegiate meet, freshman newcomers Laura Vazquez, Chelsea Kruthers, Jessica McCall and Rachel Roesgen will aim to build on their early success at the Aztecs' lone home meet of the season.

SDSU is coming off a victory at the UC San Diego Opener on Aug. 31, where it handily defeated five teams, including host UCSD. San Diego State placed six runners in the top 10 on its way to victory.

Results from all five races will be posted on GoAztecs.com when they become available.

SDSU will next head to the Stanford Invitational on Saturday, September 29.